Putin forced to abandon plans to leave Russia amid fears over arrest
Vladimir Putin has warned South Africa that arresting him 'would be a declaration of war' ahead of an international meeting
Reuters
Vladimir Putin has pulled out of travelling to South Africa for an international summit over fears of being arrested.
The Kremlin confirmed the Russian President would take part in South Africa's Brics summit - an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - via a video call instead.
It came after Putin had initially warned South Africa that arresting him "would be a declaration of war".
He is accused of committing war crimes during the Ukraine conflict and if he leaves Russia, is subject to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant.
Putin threatens war on South Africa in sinister warning ahead of visitReutersRussia has described the warrant as legally void as the country is not a member of the organisation.
However, South Africa is an ICC signatory and should help in his arrest.
Earlier today the county's president, Cyril Ramaphosa, said Putin had agreed not to attend the Brics conference in person "by mutual agreement".
The country has previously refused to implement obligations, such as allowing the safe passage in 2015 to Sudan's then-President Omar al-Bashir who was wanted for war crimes against his own people.
South Africa's biggest opposition party, Democratic Alliance, had been pushing for the authorities to carry out an arrest on Putin if he entered the country.
"South Africa has obvious problems with executing a request to arrest and surrender President Putin," a court document filed on behalf of the government said prior to the Russian leaeder's agreemnt to not leave the country.
"Russia has made it clear that arresting its sitting president would be a declaration of war.
"It would be inconsistent with our constitution to risk engaging in war with Russia."
The country has previously refused to implement obligations, such as allowing the safe passage in 2015 to Sudan's then-President Omar al-Bashir who was wanted for war crimes against his own people
Reuters
President Ramaphosa added that South Africa is holding talks with Russia and Ukraine "with a view of ending the war altogether", and so attempting to arrest Putin would be counter-productive.
A peace mission to the European nations was launched by African nations last month in a bid to bring Ukraine and Russia together, but this ultimately failed.
Correspondents say the reasons range depending on the nation, as there are economic ties between Russia and African nations.