Mexico has extended an invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the inauguration of President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum on October 1, 2024, sparking international controversy. The invitation was confirmed by both the Mexican Embassy in Moscow and the Russian Embassy in Mexico City. According to a Mexican diplomat, ‘The invitation of Russia to participate in the inauguration of President Sheinbaum was sent to President Putin’.This diplomatic move has raised eyebrows due to Putin’s outstanding arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes in Ukraine. As Mexico is a member of the ICC, it would be legally obligated to execute the warrant if Putin were to enter the country. A spokesperson noted, ‘It is ironic that Mexico, which is a member of the International Criminal Court, would invite a person who has been issued an arrest warrant’.Putin has not yet decided whether to attend the ceremony personally or send a high-ranking official in his place. The Russian President had previously congratulated Sheinbaum on her election victory, describing Mexico as a ‘traditionally friendly partner of Russia in the Latin American region’.Sheinbaum’s team, led by Juan Ramón de la Fuente, has been sending invitations to various heads of state for the inauguration ceremony. However, it’s worth noting that Sheinbaum has explicitly excluded the leaders of Ecuador and Peru from the guest list, citing alignment with outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s policies.This invitation comes as part of the celebration of 100 years of diplomatic relations between Mexico and the former Soviet Union, with Mexico being the first country in the Western Hemisphere to recognize the USSR in 1924. The ceremony will also mark other significant events, including the inauguration of the remaining section of the Tren Maya and the presentation of the September 1 report in the Zócalo.
Key points
- Mexico has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum’s inauguration on October 1, 2024.
- The invitation has sparked controversy due to Putin’s outstanding ICC arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Ukraine.
- Mexico, as an ICC member, would be legally obligated to arrest Putin if he enters the country.
- Sheinbaum has excluded leaders from Ecuador and Peru from the guest list, aligning with current diplomatic policies.
Contradictions👾While most sources report that Putin has been invited and is considering whether to attend or send a representative, one source (ТСН.
ua) quotes a spokesperson criticizing the invitation, which seems to contradict the official stance.
