The Ukrainian embassy in Mexico has issued a strong call for the Mexican government to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin should he attend the inauguration of President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum on October 1st. This demand comes after an official invitation was extended to Putin for the ceremony, sparking controversy given the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
In a statement, Ukraine’s delegation labeled Putin a “war criminal” and expressed confidence in Mexico’s commitment to international law. They asserted that Mexico would comply with the international arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and hand Putin over to the UN judicial body in The Hague.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin on March 17, 2023, over allegations of war crimes, including the unlawful deportation and transfer of children from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia. Initially, the ICC kept the warrants under seal to protect victims and witnesses, safeguarding the integrity of the investigation. However, the court subsequently decided to publicize the warrants to raise global awareness and potentially deter further crimes.
Juan Ramon de la Fuente, designated as Sheinbaum’s foreign minister, defended the decision to invite Putin, characterizing it as “standard protocol” to invite leaders from all countries with which Mexico maintains diplomatic relations. Notably, this protocol also included an invitation to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has been a vocal critic of Russia’s actions since the invasion began.
Sheinbaum, who will become Mexico’s first female president following her historic victory in the June 2nd general election, received congratulations from both Putin and Zelensky, along with other global leaders. As Sheinbaum prepares for her six-year term, her administration is already navigating intricate international diplomatic waters.
The ICC’s arrest warrant for Putin stems from accusations of war crimes that allegedly began on February 24, 2022, coinciding with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This situation presents Mexico with a complex challenge. The country must uphold diplomatic protocols while simultaneously addressing international legal and ethical standards.
