Naledi Pandor has confirmed Russian President Vladimir Putin's invitation to SA despite ICC's warrant of arrest against him.

Naledi Pandor has confirmed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invitation to SA despite ICC’s warrant of arrest against him. Image viaTwitter/@ DIRCO_ZA

‘Global has double standards’- Pandor confirms Putin’s invitation

Naledi Pandor has confirmed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invitation to SA despite ICC’s warrant of arrest against him.

Naledi Pandor has confirmed Russian President Vladimir Putin's invitation to SA despite ICC's warrant of arrest against him.

Naledi Pandor has confirmed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invitation to SA despite ICC’s warrant of arrest against him. Image viaTwitter/@ DIRCO_ZA

International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor said that there are double standards in global affairs.

Her comments come as she confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin had been invited to attend the 15th Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) summit in South Africa in August.

ICC ISSUED AN ARREST WARRANT FOR PUTIN

ALSO READ: Just in: International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin

The International Criminal Court (ICC) earlier this month issued an arrest warrant for Putin, accusing him of the war crime of illegal deportation of children from Ukraine. The alleged crimes were committed in occupied Ukrainian territory from at least 24 February 2022.

“There are reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Putin bears individual criminal responsibility for the aforementioned crime,” said the Court.

PANDOR SAYS THERE ARE DOUBLE STANDARDS IN THE GLOBAL AFFAIRS

ALSO READ: ICC’s Putin arrest warrant may be symbolic: accountability

Asked if she thinks the ICC was being unfair against Putin, Pandor said there are double standards in global affairs.

“There are many countries that have been involved in wars, in the invasion of territory, in killing people, arresting political activists and none of them have been caught up by the ICC. So it seems if you are powerful and enjoy a particular status in the global community, you escape,” said Pandor

THE MATTER MUST BE DISCUSSED BY THE CABINET

ALSO READ: Putin calls to step up fight against destabilisation

While Pandor has confirmed the invitation, it remains to be seen whether Putin will attend after the warrant was issued against him.

She said the matter must be discussed as soon as possible because the summit is coming up and SA will need to clarify the situation.

“President Putin is one of the heads of BRICS and is invited to the summit and I think the ICC warrant is a matter of concern.

“South Africa is a member state of the International Criminal Court and so we will have to have a discussion in the context of the cabinet to decide how we respond,” she said.

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