South Africa must do the right thing and respect international law if Russian President Vladimir Putin personally attends the BRICS summit in Johannesburg next month.
Source: Karim Khan, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), in an interview with CNN
Quote“South Africa has felt a crime against humanity for decades, the crime of apartheid, I don’t think they need any lessons from me.
They are a voluntarily state party to the ICC, they know the law and I think they would do the right thing. And we will assess what is really happening at the BRICS summit and react accordingly.”
Details: In March, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Affairs, for committing the war crime of deportation illegal immigration of Ukrainian children.
With the court not holding a trial in absentia, Putin must either be extradited by Moscow or arrested outside of Russia.
Most of the world’s 123 countries are parties to the treaty, and the ICC statute provides that all participating states have a legal obligation to cooperate with the court, including the execution of arrest warrants.
However, South Africa, the country hosting this year’s BRICS meeting, has granted diplomatic immunity to all attendees, meaning Putin may be able to visit the country despite the warrant. ICC judgment against him.
Background: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa says Vladimir Putin will attend BRICS summit in person in August; the Kremlin says it hasn’t decided yet.
Journalists are fighting on their own front line. Support Ukrainska Pravda or becoming our patron!