Putin risks arrest in South Africa, based on ICC international warrant
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Handcuffs are waiting for Russian President Vladimir Putin if he dares to attend in person the BRICS summit in August in South Africa, as ordered by the International Criminal Court for his crimes against humanity in Ukraine.
South Africa has told him to attend the summit via Zoom or Teams, or he will be handcuffed, as President Cyril Ramaphosa is under pressure to execute the arrest warrant placed on Putin in March for war crimes charges.
“We have no option not to arrest Putin. If he comes here, we will have to arrest him,” a South African government official said, according to the Heritage Times.
South Africa as a member of the ICC is under obligation to hand over Putin to investigators.
Last week, Ramaphosa appointed a special government committee headed by his Vice President to study Putin’s international arrest warrant, the Heritage Times reported, as quoted by Vanguard.
The committee will not be able to find “any options that would allow Putin to come. The only option we have is for [Putin] to participate in the summit via Teams or Zoom from Moscow.”
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South Africa denies withdrawal from ICC
Last week, South Africa’s Presidency officially confirmed the country has no plans to withdraw from the Rome Statute of the ICC, denying Ramaphosa’s comment that Pretoria is considering exiting its membership, per Vanguard reporting.
The Kremlin said it had not yet decided whether Putin would attend the August summit.
The ICC in The Hague issued arrest warrants on March 17 for Putin and Russian Children’s Ombudsperson Maria Lvova-Belova.
They are accused of illegally deporting children from Ukraine to Russia since February. 24, 2022.
Putin may be arrested in 123 countries that have ratified the Rome Statute.
BRICS membership comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.