South African President Says Arresting Putin In South Africa Would Be A 'Declaration Of War'

 

BBC: Arresting Vladimir Putin in South Africa would be 'declaration of war', says Ramaphosa 

Any attempt to arrest Vladimir Putin when he visits South Africa would be a declaration of war against Russia, the country's president says. 

Cyril Ramaphosa made the warning with weeks to go before an international meeting happens in Johannesburg, to which the Russian president is invited.

But if Mr Putin leaves Russian soil, he will be subject to an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant. 

South Africa is an ICC signatory and should therefore help in his arrest. 

Yet it has refused to honour that obligation in the past - allowing safe passage in 2015 to Sudan's then-President Omar al-Bashir who was wanted for war crimes against his own people.

Mr Putin has been invited to South Africa in August, when the country hosts a summit for members of the Brics countries - an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. 

This bloc of fast-growing economies is seen by some as an alternative to the G7 group of advanced economies.  

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Update #1: South African leader says that arresting Putin if he comes to Johannesburg next month would be ‘war’ -- AP 

Update #2: Arresting Putin Would be 'Declaration Of War,' South African President Says -- AFP  

WNU Editor: The South African President has a good relationship with Putin. He is not going to jeopardize it.

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