Pretoria, South Africa – (African Boulevard News) – The South African opposition party, Democratic Alliance (DA), has taken legal action to prevent Russian President Vladimir Putin from entering the country. Putin is due to attend a summit in South Africa, but the DA has vowed to have him arrested if he sets foot in the country.
The DA has filed a legal petition to ensure that the South African government upholds the rule of law and accountability, and seeks to prevent President Putin from avoiding justice should he enter the country. The party said that Putin’s visit would be a breach of South Africa’s commitment to international law, and that it would be an insult to the memory of those who had fought for democracy and human rights in the country.
“The DA will not stand idly by while a foreign leader who is accused of crimes against his own people and of interfering in the affairs of other countries comes to South Africa and is given a red-carpet treatment,” said DA leader, John Steenhuisen.
The DA’s legal challenge comes after the Russian President was accused of meddling in elections in the United States and other countries. Putin has also been accused of human rights abuses in Russia, including the killing of opposition activists and the suppression of free speech.
“The South African government must uphold the rule of law and accountability. This means that President Putin should not be allowed to enter South Africa without being held accountable for his actions,” Steenhuisen said.
The DA is not the only group seeking to prevent Putin’s visit to South Africa. Human rights groups and opposition parties have also voiced their concerns, citing Russia’s record on human rights, democracy, and media freedom. Amnesty International has called on the South African government to ensure that human rights are not violated during Putin’s visit.
“The South African government must ensure that human rights are respected and protected during Putin’s visit. This includes freedom of expression, association, and assembly, and the right to peaceful protest,” said Shenilla Mohamed, Executive Director of Amnesty International South Africa.
As the legal battle continues, the DA has called on the South African government to take a stand and ensure that President Putin is held accountable for his actions. The DA has warned that failure to act would be a betrayal of the values enshrined in South Africa’s Constitution and would undermine the country’s standing in the international community.
