S. Africa Asks Its Prosecuting Authority To Issue Arrest Warrant Against Vladimir Putin

The main opposition Democratic Alliance's court case against the government will not proceed after all parties agreed to a compromise solution, with the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) asked to issue an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

• The DA was seeking a court order which would force the government to comply with arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. It has recently been announced that Putin will not attend the upcoming BRICS summit in person, saving South Africa a legal dilemma posed by his ICC arrest warrant.
• During a brief session today, the North Gauteng High Court confirmed that in the process of "consultations," the ICC said that South Africa was "obligated to arrest President Putin in terms of the ICC's arrest warrant and request for co-operation," even as the country raised potential issues with executing the warrant.
• The court was informed that the Justice Department has already lodged an appropriate request with the NDPP, effectively committing to detain Putin should he visit South Africa in person.