Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in South Africa to attend the BRICS summit, which brings together leaders from Russia, China, India, Brazil and South Africa. But does the International Criminal Court (ICC) have the means to arrest Putin if it so wishes?
Interestingly, the ICC has issued an international arrest warrant for Putin for alleged war crimes in Ukraine. However, it is unlikely that the ICC will be able to arrest the Russian president during his visit to South Africa.
This situation raises the question of whether the ICC is kidding itself by issuing arrest warrants that it does not have the means to execute. Some experts say this can discredit the authority of the ICC and render its investigations and arrest warrants ineffective.
Despite this, the ICC continues to play an important role in the fight against impunity for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. However, it is clear that the ICC must be able to take concrete steps to enforce its decisions, in order to retain its credibility and authority.
Putin's visit to South Africa raises questions about the effectiveness of the ICC and the credibility of its arrest warrants. If the ICC is to retain its relevance in the fight against international crimes, it must be able to enforce its decisions, including the arrest of wanted persons.
The ICC dreams up, even in dreams it has
Will ever dare arrest a president of a nuclear power