In a significant development, South Africa’s presidential office has confirmed that President Vladimir Putin of Russia will not be attending the BRICS nations summit scheduled for August. The decision puts an end to months of speculation surrounding the Russian leader’s participation while being under an international arrest warrant.
Vincent Magwenya, the spokesperson for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, made the official announcement, stating, “By mutual agreement, President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation will not attend the summit.” Instead, the Russian delegation will be headed by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
The issue arose due to Russia’s controversial invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a matter that South Africa has not openly condemned. As a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), South Africa faced a diplomatic dilemma in hosting Putin, who is wanted by the ICC for the illegal deportations of Ukrainian children.
In court documents dated June, which were released on Tuesday, President Ramaphosa revealed that Russia had warned that arresting their sitting president would be considered a “declaration of war.” This warning, along with concerns that Putin’s arrest could undermine the ongoing South African-led peace negotiations in Ukraine, made the situation even more complex for South Africa.
The uncertainty surrounding Putin’s attendance at the BRICS summit had been reported by The Moscow Times, primarily due to the ICC indictment and the fallout from the Wagner mercenary group’s mutiny.
South Africa currently holds the chairmanship of BRICS, a group that includes Russia, Brazil, India, and China. The coalition has positioned itself as a counterbalance to Western economic dominance.
As of now, the Kremlin and Russia’s Foreign Ministry have not commented on the South African presidential office’s statement regarding Putin’s absence from the BRICS summit. The situation is likely to draw attention from international observers and may have implications for diplomatic relations among the member nations.
(with inputs from agencies)
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