An arrest warrant for Putin in South Africa would be ‘political provocation’, according to an international law expert

An arrest warrant for Putin in South Africa would be ‘political provocation’, according to an international law expert.

Andre Thomashausen told RT that those pressing for it wish to maintain their commercial and economic position.

Andre Thomashausen, an international law expert, has told RT that pressuring South Africa to issue an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin is a “political provocation.”

According to him, those behind the move are attempting to “maintain trading and commerce privilege.”

In March, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian commissioner for children’s rights, for “forcible transfer of population,” referring to Moscow’s efforts to evacuate children from the conflict zone. Russia never ratified the Rome Statute that established the International Criminal Court in 1998. In addition, Russian authorities have initiated criminal proceedings against the chief prosecutor of the ICC and three justices involved in the warrant.

The decision by the International Criminal Court cast a pall over the forthcoming BRICS summit, which is scheduled for August and will be hosted by South Africa. Regarding the likelihood of executing the warrant, country officials have sent conflicting signals.

The decolonization of South Africa has resulted in “the perpetuation of economic dependency,” while up to 70% of the country’s economy “is dominated by British, American, and other European capital,” according to Thomashausen, who spoke with RT as the continent celebrated Africa Day. He continued, “The banking system is completely oriented and controlled by them.”

South Africa, who will host the impending BRICS summit, is attempting to maintain neutrality, and is now “at the forefront of an African peace initiative for Ukraine,” he said.