In response to an order granted by the High Court in Pretoria in relation to the application to have Russian President Vladimir Putin arrested if he arrives in the country, Amnesty International South Africa Executive Director, Shenilla Mohamed said:
“We welcome the order of the High Court in Pretoria and the South African government’s agreement that it will execute the ICC’s arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin if he ever sets foot in the country. This is a win for the rule of law and international justice, and most importantly victims in Ukraine. South Africa needs to continue leading in the fight for international justice for all victims of crimes under international law. International mechanisms such as the ICC as well as domestic efforts of states like South Africa are essential for truth, justice, and reparations for victims of grave crimes everywhere.”
Background
Amnesty International South Africa joined the court case as an amicus curiae, friend of the court, in the application for a declaratory order that if Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the BRICS Summit in South Africa due to take place in August, the South African authorities are obliged to arrest him.
Amnesty International has been working to document war crimes and other violations of international humanitarian law in Ukraine since 2014 and subsequently following Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country. All of Amnesty International’s outputs published to date can be found here.
For more information or to request an interview, please contact:
Genevieve Quintal, Media and Communications Officer , Amnesty International South Africa: +27 (0) 64 890 9224; genevieve.quintal@amnesty.org.za
Public Document
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