Putin to skip G20 summit in SA due to ICC arrest warrant

This is due to an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued against him in March last year.  

The ICC accuses Putin of war crimes, including the unlawful deportation of children from Ukraine.  

 Putin is accused of being individually responsible for the forced transfer and deportation of Ukrainian children.

DIRCO Director-General Zane Dangor says South Africa would be obligated to arrest Putin if he attended, prompting the Russian leader's decision to skip the summit, as he did with BRICS in 2023.

He spoke to the media at the conclusion of the first G20 Foreign Ministers’ meeting at Nasrec, Johannesburg.

"When South Africa hosted the BRICS Summit, President Putin did not attend. 

"The only matter raised was a request for clarity from the ICC under Article 97 consultations—specifically, whether the arrest warrant process was complete and if Article 98 had been complied with. 

"Once confirmed, we could ensure that his absence did not breach international customary law. The Minister of Justice at the time can attest—there was an arrest warrant for Putin in South Africa, and he did not attend," he said.

Dangor added that all state parties must uphold their obligations under the statute, particularly since arrest warrants have been issued for other heads of state.

"Some previously sought to invoke Article 98, despite disagreeing with it. 

"However, our consultations have clarified that Article 98 no longer applies as it was previously interpreted. 

"All state parties are obligated to act when an arrest warrant is issued and they are called upon to enforce it."

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