Directed to:
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Tajikistan
- Office of the Prosecutor General, Republic of Tajikistan
The World Liberty Congress expresses grave concern over recent announcements that President Vladimir Putin plans to travel to Tajikistan. As a State Party to the Rome Statute, Tajikistan is under an unequivocal legal obligation to cooperate fully with the International Criminal Court (ICC), including by executing arrest warrants issued by the Court.
On 17 March 2023, the ICC issued a warrant for the arrest and surrender of Vladimir Putin on charges of war crimes — specifically unlawful deportation or transfer of children from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia or Russian-controlled territories. As of today, that warrant remains in force.
By ratifying the Rome Statute, Tajikistan undertook to bind itself to the Court’s enforcement regime. Under Article 86 and Article 89 of the Rome Statute, Tajik authorities are required to cooperate in the detection, arrest, and surrender of persons subject to ICC warrants. Failure to act would constitute a clear violation of those treaty obligations.
We therefore call upon:
1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs to deny entry to President Putin or any emissary traveling on his behalf, or to facilitate his arrest immediately should he attempt entry into Tajik territory.
2. The Office of the Prosecutor General to prepare and carry out arrest and surrender proceedings in full compliance with ICC procedures, without delay or exception.
We emphasize that no individual — including a head of state — is above the law. Tajikistan’s compliance with the ICC regime is essential to uphold the international justice system, to support the rights of victims, and to reinforce that impunity is unacceptable.
In failing to enforce the arrest warrant, Tajikistan would risk undermining the credibility of the ICC, signaling that legal obligations can be ignored when politically inconvenient. Such an outcome would erode global faith in accountability mechanisms.
We respectfully urge that your offices act swiftly and decisively. The world is watching whether Tajikistan will stand by its treaty commitments or yield to political pressure.
Sincerely,
World Liberty Congress
