APA-Johannesburg (South Africa) President Cyril Ramaphosa has revealed that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will not be attending next month’s BRICS summit in South Africa.
BRICS constitutes the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
Ramaphosa’s office issued a statement on Wednesday confirming that Putin will be missing out on the flagship summit amidst controversy over an arrest warrant for him by the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes in Ukraine.
South Africa as a signatory to the ICC was expected to arrest Mr Putin upon arrival in the country but Mr Ramaphosa had warned that any such attempt would be tantamount to a declaration of war against Russia.
Russian Foreign Affair minister Sergei Lavrov will be at the South Africa summit in his stead.
Consequently, a warrant for his arrest was issued out to all ICC member states – including South Africa.
According to the affidavit, the president submitted that Russia had made it clear that arresting its sitting president would be a declaration of war.
“And this would be inconsistent with our Constitution to risk engaging in war with Russia,” the president said in the affidavit.
Ramaphosa said South Africa was one of several African nations holding talks with Russia and Ukraine aimed at ending the war altogether.
Any attempt to arrest Putin would be counter-productive, and this would go against his duty to protect the country, he added.
South Africa, a signatory to the Rome Treaty that set up the ICC, is obliged to arrest Putin to fulfil its commitment as an ICC member state when Putin steps foot in the country for the Brics summit.
However, Pretoria has shown reluctance to do so as Ramaphosa warns enacting the arrest could threaten the security, peace and order of the state.
APA