South Africa says it doesn't want Putin to visit later this summer because it doesn't want to have to arrest him

[Rogue Valley]

South Africa says it doesn't want Putin to visit later this summer because it doesn't want to have to arrest him

South Africa's government is concerned that, under international law, it would have to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if he visits.

www.businessinsider.com

7.15.23
The government of South Africa really hopes that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not show up at the meeting it's hosting next month, a top official said in an interview published Friday, fearing that it could result in an international incident. "We would be happy if he doesn't come," South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile told the Mail & Guardian. That sentiment comes after South Africa, in January, said that Putin was welcome to attend the next BRICS summit in Johannesburg, which begins Aug. 22. BRICS stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, the governments of which have formed a rival to the G7 alliance of developed economies. But, in March, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for the Russian president, accusing him of overseeing war crimes in Ukraine, namely the illegal transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia. Countries that signed the treaty creating the court, known as the Rome Statute, are obligated to "immediately take steps" to detain suspects. "We understand we are bound by the Rome Statute," Mashatile said, "but we can't invite someone, and then arrest him." A spokesperson for Mashatile later told the Financial Times that the South African government is "speaking to President Putin directly on the ICC problem."

The "ICC problem"?

The South African government needs to understand that Vladimir Putin is a wanted war criminal, a criminal who has kidnapped and deported thousands of Ukrainian children from their native land to Russia.

If SA doesn't want to honor its international committments - here the Rome Statute - then the government of SA should refrain from signing such documents.

 

[Infinite Chaos]

Putin wants to go. South Africa has suggested Lavrov go instead but Russia seems to want Putin to go.

Maybe he wants to fly over all the diamond and gold mines his Wagner fighters now control.

 

[joluoto]

Putin wants to go. South Africa has suggested Lavrov go instead but Russia seems to want Putin to go.

Maybe he wants to fly over all the diamond and gold mines his Wagner fighters now control.

No, he wants South Africa to receive him and not arrest him to show the world the ICC warrant mean nothing. If South Africa tells Russia they'd still have to arrest him, he'll cancel last second and send someone else.

 

[Infinite Chaos]

No, he wants South Africa to receive him

I was making a joke when I talked about Putin wanting to fly over the African diamond mines controlled by Wagner.

 

[Rogue Valley]

I was making a joke when I talked about Putin wanting to fly over the African diamond mines controlled by Wagner.

Wagner does control gold/diamond mines in the Central African Republic.

It is Wagner's price for protecting the corrupt regime in Bangui.