MEZIESBLOG

Vladimir Putin wants to attend an economic summit in Johannesburg next month but the country is desperately trying to persuade him to stay away to avoid the legal and diplomatic fallout over his international arrest warrant, South Africa’s deputy president said in an interview today.

As a signatory to the treaty establishing the International Criminal Court, South Africa is obliged to arrest Mr Putin on an indictment the court issued against the Russian leader in March for war crimes involving the abduction of children from Ukraine.

Moscow has dismissed the warrant. South African authorities are likely to breach the treaty and not arrest Mr Putin, but some opposition parties, rights groups and legal activists have said he should be arrested and have threatened to do it themselves, raising security issues for the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) summit in Johannesburg.

Having already decided not to condemn Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, South Africa faces the prospect of further straining relations with the West if it allows Putin to freely attend the summit of the BRICS emerging economies bloc of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Mr Putin hasn’t yet travelled to a country that is a signatory to the court treaty since the arrest warrant against him was issued.

“It’s a big dilemma for us. Of course, we cannot arrest him,” deputy president Paul Mashatile said. 

“It’s almost like you invite your friend to your house, and then arrest them. That’s why for us, his not coming is the best solution. The Russians are not happy, though. They want him to come.”