Russian President Putin commends troops for preventing civil war

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his annual state of the nation address at the Gostiny Dvor conference centre in central Moscow on February 21, 2023. (Photo by Mikhail METZEL / SPUTNIK / AFP)

Will South Africa arrest Putin? Parliament seeks answers from DIRCO

The Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation has requested clarity from DIRCO regarding the handling of Putin’s upcoming visit to SA in August.

Russian President Putin commends troops for preventing civil war

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his annual state of the nation address at the Gostiny Dvor conference centre in central Moscow on February 21, 2023. (Photo by Mikhail METZEL / SPUTNIK / AFP)

The Parliament Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation wants clarity from DIRCO about its handling of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to South Africa in August.

READ:  International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin

Chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation seeks clarity on government’s approach to Putin’s visit

Putin is scheduled to attend the 15th BRICS Summit. Recently, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant for his arrest for alleged war crimes committed in Ukraine.

South Africa is a signatory of the Rome Statue and is therefore compelled to arrest Putin and transfer him to The Hague for trial if he sets foot in the country.

According to Supra Mahumapelo, the Chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation, the Committee will write to Minister Naledi Pandor to discuss the matter.

“…just to understand from their point of view as the executive how are they going to approach this matter because we are doing oversight on them,” he said, according to SABC News.

Opposition party urges ICC to use “third parties” for arrest

As previously reported, the Democratic Alliance is convinced the government will not arrest Putin if he comes to South Africa. The opposition party wants the ICC to use “third parties” to arrest Putin.

READ MORE: DA says ICC must use ‘third parties’ to arrest Putin on SA soil

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