APA-Pretoria (South Africa) South Africa must do “the right thing” by arresting Russia’s President Vladimir Putin if he comes to the country for the forthcoming BRICS summit in August, International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor Karim Khan said on Friday.
The ICC issued arrest warrants for Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Affairs, for committing the war crime by illegally deporting Ukrainian children.
“South Africa has felt a crime against humanity for decades before – the crime of apartheid. I don’t think they (leadership) need lessons from me,” Khan said.
He described South Africa as “voluntarily a state party” to the ICC.
“They know what the law is. And I think they would do the right thing” by arresting him, Khan said.
The chief prosecutor said the ICC would assess “what actually happens at the BRICS summit and respond accordingly.”
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said all summit participants, including heads of state, have been granted diplomatic immunity – meaning Putin might be able to attend the event in person despite the ICC warrant for his arrest.
NM/jn/APA