South Africa would have to arrest Putin if he attends BRICS summit
Vladimir Putin (Photo:Sputnik/Mikhail Metzel/Pool via REUTERS)
As a signatory to the Rome State of the International Criminal Court, South Africa is legally bound to act on the arrest warrant for Russian dictator Vladimir Putin if he attends the August BIRCS summit in the country, Sky News reported on March 17.
Russian media maintain that South Africa is expecting Putin to attend the BRICS summit in Durban this August, in person.
The report notes this would create further diplomatic difficulties for Moscow, but even if the dictator chooses to come, “the prospect of the host nation's president, Cyril Ramaphosa, ordering his forces to lead Mr Putin away in handcuffs is thought to be a hugely remote one.”
In 2015, South Africa refused to arrest Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who was also under an ICC warrant.
South Africa remains a party to the Rome Statute, despite attempts to withdraw from the agreement after the al-Bashir scandal.
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