The South African government said on July 21 that it had not fulfilled its international obligations by refusing to immediately issue an arrest warrant for Russian dictator Vladimir Putin if he entered the country, European Pravda journalists reported.
The South African Department of Justice received documents on the mandate of the International Criminal Court in May. Instead of immediately sending the arrest warrant to the country’s National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), the government decided to initiate a consultation process with the court in The Hague.
The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria confirmed on Friday that the department had finally sent the warrant.
Next month, the African country will host a summit of BRICS countries. South African and Russian officials had previously said Putin would be allowed to attend the summit despite the ICC mandate and South Africa’s participation in the International Criminal Court.
The South African presidential office announced on July 19 that Vladimir Putin would not attend the next BRICS summit and that Russia would instead be represented by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
In March this year, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian official who allegedly oversaw the forced deportations of Ukrainian children to Russia.
More than 19,500 Ukrainian children have been forcibly deported to Russia since February 2022.
Last war in Ukraine: Russia tries to carry out sabotage raids in Sumy and Chernihiv oblasts
Key developments July 21: * Russian media: War criminal Igor Girkin arrested in Russia * Germany delivers Leopard-1 tanks, other military aid to Ukraine * France accuses China of providing non-lethal aid to Russia * Russian attacks leave at least 8 dead, including 2 children. Russian sabotage…
Alexander’s request
