ICC Warrant: Arrest Russian President, Opposition Tells Ramaphosa

There is a strong demand on the table of President Cyril Ramaphosa, and it is for him to to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin of Russia at any slightest opportunity.

Ramaphosa is the president of South Africa and is advised to do so any time the Russian leader sets foot on South African soil.

This demand comes from the leader of Democratic Alliance (DA), South Africa’s main opposition, John Steenhuisen on the heels of the March 18, warrant of arrest placed on the head of Putin by the International Criminal Court (ICC) .

The Russian president has been a major issue of discourse around the globe following his country’s invasion, and ongoing war with Ukraine.

The Rome Statute follows the massive killings and other ills associated World War II, and attempts to guard against and seeks a prosecution of individuals responsible for associated crimes against humanity.

South Africa is among 123 state signatories to the Rome Statute, and

Steenhuisen said South Africa, one of 123 state signatories to the Rome Statute, said the country has a legal obligation to cooperate with the ICC in jailing Putin.

“I think that any responsible president would advise Putin, given the ICC arrest warrant, that he should perhaps not come,” said Steenhuisen.

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“But if he does come, I think South Africa is obliged — if it’s for the rule of law and (if you) govern according to the constitutional principles — you would be obliged to execute that arrest warrant.

“If he is here, we have a legal obligation. The principle of the rule of law means equality before the law, and South Africa is obliged to execute that. We have not left the ICC. We’ve remained signatories. Putin must be arrested,” he added.

Agency reports indicate that Putin would join others for the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) summit in South Africa in August, though the South African International Relations Department and President Ramaphosa await legal advice.

In addition, the DA urged the South African leader to prioritise the country’s reputation by arresting Putin or ensuring he was not among the leaders attending the BRICS summit.

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“The country simply cannot afford another hit to our reputation. The Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) greylisting due to the failure to effectively combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism has already caused the rest of the world to view South Africa’s global transactions as high-risk,” said the DA in a statement.