There can be no immunity for Vladimir Putin; he must be arrested if he comes to the BRICS visit, says the ICC chief prosecutor. South African president has stated Putin will attend in person, but Kremlin is still undecided.
South Africa should do “the right thing” and follow international law if Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the BRICS bloc summit in Johannesburg next month in person, International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan told CNN on Friday.
The ICC issued warrants in March for Putin and a Russian children’s rights official over alleged war crimes in Ukraine. As a member of the ICC, South Africa would be obligated to arrest Putin if he enters the country. However, South Africa has granted diplomatic immunity to all officials attending the BRICS summit, potentially allowing Putin to travel there without apprehension.
Khan stated South Africa does not need guidance on this issue, noting its history confronting apartheid crimes. “I don’t think they need lessons from me,” he said. “They are voluntarily a state party to the ICC, they know what the law is, and I think they would do the right thing.”
Voice of Ukraine 