Mexico invites Putin to inaugurate a new president

Mexico has invited Russian President Putin to the swearing in of the new President Sheinbaum on October 1st. Mexican government sources confirmed this to NOS following a report by Russian state media. The country is said to have sent an invitation to all countries with which it has diplomatic ties.

The Russian newspaper Izvestia came based on information from the Mexican embassy in Russia first with the news. Russian state news agency Tass and Mexican media also reported on the invitation later.

“The Russian president will decide whether to participate in the ceremony himself or appoint another high-ranking official to do so on his behalf,” said Izvestia, a representative of the Mexican embassy. The EU said from recently sanctions against the newspaper for spreading Russian propaganda.

Last year, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a arrest warrant against Putin in connection with the illegal deportation of hundreds of children from Ukraine following Russia’s invasion of the neighboring country in early 2022.

Russia is not a member of the ICC, Mexico is. In theory, this means that Mexico would have to arrest Putin when he visits the country. In South Africa, also a member of the ICC, a similar situation could have happened last year. Putin was still, that one a tour he will give to the land, eventually.

Like South Africa, Mexico has good relations with Russia. Putin congratulated Sheinbaum on her election victory in June. In doing so, he historically identified Mexico as “Russia’s friendly partner in Latin America.”