Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be attending the upcoming BRICS summit in South Africa in August, according to an announcement made by the South African presidency. This decision puts an end to months of speculation about whether Putin would be arrested on an international warrant during his visit. South Africa, as a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC), would be obligated to arrest him for alleged war crimes committed by Russia during its invasion of Ukraine.
Instead of Putin, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will be representing Russia at the summit, alongside the leaders of Brazil, India, China, and South Africa. The decision to exclude Putin from the summit came after consultations between South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and leaders of political parties from the BRICS group of emerging economies.
The arrest warrant issued by the ICC accuses Putin of illegally deporting children from Ukraine, a war crime. However, Russia, as a non-member of the ICC, considers the warrant to be legally void. The Kremlin revealed that Putin will participate in the BRICS summit via video call.
South Africa’s neutrality in the Ukraine conflict has been a subject of criticism from Western powers, as the country is seen as being friendly to Russia. This perception stems from Russia’s strong alliance with the governing African National Congress during apartheid.
The absence of Putin at the summit has generated mixed reactions in South Africa. Some residents, like Lunga Tshabalala from Johannesburg, see it as a positive outcome and a step away from an alliance with Russia. On the other hand, people like Mahlatse Makgoba believe that a strong relationship with Russia could benefit South Africa economically.
The BRICS summit was expected to be a platform for exploring alternatives to the US dollar as a global currency. However, with Putin’s absence, some experts, including Andre Thomashausen, emeritus professor of international law at the University of South Africa, believe that this goal may not be achievable.
The decision not to arrest Putin was reportedly influenced by the fear that doing so would declare war and potentially undermine African efforts to end the conflict in Ukraine. A court filing made public on Tuesday revealed that President Ramaphosa had sought permission from the ICC to refrain from arresting Putin.
The BRICS summit, without the presence of Putin, may not be as groundbreaking as initially anticipated. The summit is scheduled to take place from August 22 to 24 in Johannesburg.