Malema: We won't let Putin be arrested. Even though the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President ...
Malema: We won't let Putin be arrested.
Even though the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, South Africa's opposition party, EFF, said that Putin has the right to visit the African country.
The ICC says that President Putin committed war crimes during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, such as taking Ukrainian children hostage.
In August, Mr. Putin is likely to go to South Africa for the Brics (Brazil, Russia, India, and South Africa) meeting.
On Thursday, Julius Malema, the leader of the EFF party, said that no one will arrest Vladimir Putin in South Africa because Russia did a lot to help free the country.
Mr. Malema told the South African government that putting pressure on the ICC to try to arrest Putin would be hypocritical.
He said, "We're glad to see him. He could not be caught. If she is arrested, we will take him from the airport to where he will be speaking. When he is done talking, we will take him back to the airport."
Malema said, "We know who our friends are. We know the people who freed us. We remember those who helped us."
Even though the West is critical, South Africa has strong ties with Russia.
Last month, the South African navy and the Russian navy did drills on the coast between South Africa and Russia.
The country also didn't vote against Russia's invasion of Ukraine in the UN General Assembly.
In 2015, South Africa was criticized for not arresting Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir there, even though the International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued an arrest warrant for him.
No comments