### Ukraine Requests Mexico to Detain Putin if He Attends Sheinbaum’s Inauguration
On August 7, 2024, the Ukrainian Embassy in Mexico declared that Russian President Vladimir Putin is a “war criminal” and expressed confidence that the Mexican government would comply with an international arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) should Putin decide to attend the inauguration ceremony of Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, the President-elect of Mexico, set for October 1, 2024.
Through an official statement, the Ukrainian diplomatic mission acknowledged Mexico’s gesture of inviting representatives from all countries with diplomatic relations. “We also appreciate the gracious invitation extended to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy,” the statement read.
The embassy emphasized that Mexico is aware of Putin’s standing arrest warrant for alleged war crimes related to the abduction and forced relocation of Ukrainian children to Russia, issued by the ICC, whose jurisdiction Mexico acknowledges.
“This heinous crime is just one of the numerous reasons why Putin and his political-military elite will ultimately face justice for launching a large-scale invasion of Ukraine, orchestrating bombings, executions, torture, rapes, and looting of the Ukrainian people,” the embassy said.
“We trust that the Mexican government would adhere to the international arrest warrant and hand over the said individual to the United Nations’ judicial body in The Hague,” the Ukrainian Embassy in Mexico concluded.
### Background and Response
Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, the President-elect of Mexico, has invited Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation since 2012, to her inauguration ceremony on October 1, 2024. Despite Putin’s ICC arrest warrant issued on March 17, 2023, for alleged war crimes related to the illegal transfer of Ukrainian children from Russian-occupied Ukraine since February 24, 2022, the invitation was extended.
Andrei Zemsky, a press officer at the Russian Embassy in Mexico, confirmed to Sputnik that Mexico’s Foreign Ministry had officially invited the Russian delegation to the inauguration. The Mexican Embassy in Russia, quoted by Izvestia, stated that Putin would decide whether he personally attends or sends a high-ranking official in his place.
On August 6, 2024, Mexico’s Secretariat of Foreign Affairs informed Reuters that it had sent diplomatic notes to 208 nations and 34 international organizations inviting them to participate in Sheinbaum’s inauguration.
During a press conference on July 31, 2024, Sheinbaum mentioned that invitations were sent to executive heads “practically all over the world,” excluding Ecuador and Peru due to diplomatic disputes with Mexico.
Responding to questions about the invitation to Putin, Sheinbaum explained that Mexico follows a protocol of sending general diplomatic notes to all countries with which it has relations, and emphasized that the invitation to Russia was nothing extraordinary.
On August 7, 2024, Sheinbaum stated that these invitations were part of standard diplomatic protocol, with no confirmations received yet. Juan Ramón de la Fuente RamÃrez, the incoming Foreign Minister, elaborated that these invitations were merely protocol to inform of the upcoming change in Mexico’s presidential administration.
De la Fuente RamÃrez also noted high global anticipation for Sheinbaum’s inauguration, highlighting international media’s enthusiastic coverage of her electoral victory on June 2, 2024.
### Supplementary Articles
#### Mexico’s Stance on International Law and Diplomatic Practices
Given the controversial nature of inviting a head of state with an ICC arrest warrant, Mexico’s adherence to international law and diplomatic practices comes under scrutiny. Historically, Mexico has maintained a policy of neutrality in conflicts, but how it handles this situation could set a significant precedent.
#### ICC Warrants and International Responses
The ICC’s issuance of an arrest warrant for a sitting head of state is rare but significant. This brings into question how countries with diplomatic ties to both the ICC and the country in question navigate such complex legal and diplomatic waters.
### Conclusion
As Mexico prepares for Claudia Sheinbaum’s inauguration, the world watches closely. The invitation extended to Vladimir Putin amidst existing international legal controversies adds layers of complexity, testing Mexico’s diplomatic strategies and commitments to global legal norms.
Stay tuned to TJGringo.com for more updates on this evolving story and other international news.