Arresting Putin Would be Declaration Of War, Ramaphosa Says
- South Africa consulting ICC over warrant for Russian leader
- Putin’s attendance at BRICS summit poses dilemma for Pretoria
Cyril Ramaphosa
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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said a court order that would force him to commit to arresting Russian leader Vladimir Putin if he attends a BRICS summit in Johannesburg next month would be premature, and effecting such a ruling would be tantamount to a declaration of war.
The Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s main opposition party, approached the country’s High Court to compel the government to honor an International Criminal Court warrant issued against Putin that’s related to war crimes during the invasion of Ukraine. South Africa is a signatory to the Rome Statute that established the ICC and is bound by its decisions.