Ukrainian MP: Putin should only be invited abroad to face arrest

A visiting Ukrainian lawmaker said that any invitation by a country to Vladimir Putin should only come with the intention of apprehending the Russian president over a long list of war crimes.

Oleksandr Merezhko, chairperson of the Ukrainian Parliament’s Foreign Policy and Inter-parliamentary Committee, said this also applies to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s personal invitation for Putin to attend the 47th Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur next month.

Asked for his views on Anwar’s invitation to both Putin and US president Donald Trump, Merezhko said: “Well, of course, when we are talking about President Trump, it’s a good idea to invite him, because I’m sure that when he sees the opportunities for American economy, for global stability, it will be very helpful for all.”

“But when it comes to Putin, I view this issue not only as a politician, but as a professor of international law.

“Putin is a war criminal. Speaking in terms of international law, he is a war criminal, and we should proceed from this fact when someone is thinking about whether to invite him.

“The (inviting) country should take this into consideration,” he stressed.

Merezhko was speaking during a press conference at WTC Kuala Lumpur, on the sidelines of the 46th Asean Inter-Parliamentary (Aipa) General Assembly, set to take place from Sept 17-20.

On May 13 this year, the United Nations aviation council ruled that Russia was responsible for downing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over Ukraine in July 2014, which killed all 283 passengers and 15 crew members.

The plane, en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, was shot down over eastern Ukraine amid clashes between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces.

Merezhko, who is also part of the Ukrainian delegation to the parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe, noted the body had, in a number of resolutions, recognised Putin as a “terrorist”.

“Let’s recall MH17, a terrorist crime. So under international law, Putin is a terrorist, and he’s head of the terrorist regime. It’s not my subjective point of view.

“Putin was responsible for this act of terrorism against Malaysia Airlines. Citizens of Malaysia were killed as a result of Putin’s decisions.

“That’s why I think that if someone is thinking about inviting him, he can be invited only for one purpose - to apprehend him and send him to The Hague to be responsible for all his crimes and terrorist acts,” he added.

Malaysia currently has no legal obligation to enforce any arrest warrant against Putin, as the government does not accede to the Rome Statute, having withdrawn its signature on April 5, 2019, just a month after signing the international document.

Commenting on Malaysia’s position, Merezhko today said the government could consider reviewing its stance and accede to the Rome Statute again, which he described as the best platform to act against “terrorists and war criminals”.

Trips to Russia, invitation to Putin

In September last year, Anwar personally invited Putin to the Asean Summit during his attendance at the Ninth Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia.

In May this year, Anwar made a second visit to Moscow, coincidentally the same day the UN aviation council delivered its ruling against Russia.

At the time, PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari said Anwar has a duty to Malaysians to raise the matter directly with Putin.

He also urged Anwar to press the Russian government for a public apology and commitment to a compensation process.

Before the UN’s decision, the Dutch-led Joint Investigative Team (JIT) concluded that MH17 was downed using a BUK missile originating from the Russian military, claims which Moscow has repeatedly denied.

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