A number of South African representatives on the eve of the BRICS summit, which will be held in August 2023 in Johannesburg, asked Vladimir Putin not to attend the event in person. According to The Sunday Times, the Russian leader can participate in meetings of the organization via Zoom.
The interlocutor of the publication indicated that such a request is connected with the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin. South Africa, as a party to the Rome Statute, is formally bound to implement the tribunal’s decision.
Meanwhile, voices for the country’s withdrawal from the Rome Statute resounded in the republic the day before. This proposal was made by the participants of the African National Congress. However, the administration of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has ensured that the republic remains a state that has signed the Rome Statute. Earlier, South African authorities announced that they would not arrest Putin if he arrived in Johannesburg.
There have been times in history when South Africa has gone against the will of the ICC in this regard. Thus, in 2015, the country’s authorities decided not to arrest Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, although they were forced to do so by decision of an international judicial body.
Arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova were issued on March 17. Russia and many other countries around the world do not recognize the court’s jurisdiction.
Photos used: flowcomm/flickr.com
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