South Africa grants Vladimir Putin, other Russian officials diplomatic immunity for BRICS summit
The Hindu
South African Government has granted diplomatic immunity to all international participants, including Russia President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials, at BRICS-related events to be held in the country,
South African government has granted diplomatic immunity to all international participants, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials, at BRICS-related events to be held in the country, local media reported.
The immunities and privileges in terms of the United Nations Convention grant immunity from personal arrest or detention.
A gazetted notice was issued by the International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor for the Diplomatic Immunity and Privileges Act to be granted to all international officials at BRICS-related events in the country, according to the Daily Maverick, a South African-based publication.
The notice, signed on May 19 and gazetted on May2 2, states that Mr. Putin and his international counterparts will be granted immunities and privileges provided in terms of Section 6(1)(a) of the Act. A spokesperson for Mr. Pandor said the notice was "routine", and such notices were issued every time there was a similar international meeting in South Africa.
The Act states that this immunity is granted to officials and experts of the United Nations, any specialised agency or organisation, and representatives of any state participating in an international conference or meeting convened in South Africa.
Section 6(1)(a) of the Act sets out that immunities "are specifically provided for in the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, 1946, or the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the specialised agencies, 1947, as the case may be, in respect of the participation in conferences and meetings".
"Immunity from personal arrest or detention and from seizure of their personal baggage, and, in respect of words spoken or written and all acts done by them in their capacity as representatives, immunity from legal process of every kind," the document reads.
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