The South African government has applied for a warrant to arrest the Russian President Vladimir Putin, if he visits South Africa.
The move follows a legal application by the opposition Democratic Alliance to compel the government to comply with an order from the International Criminal Court.
That stipulated that Mr Putin should be arrested in connection with the alleged abduction of children from Ukraine.
On Wednesday, the South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, confirmed that Mr Putin would not be attending a Brics Summit in Johannesburg in August, ending months of speculation.
