Putin to Skip BRICS Summit, Avoiding Possible Arrest for War Crimes Summary Points: - Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the BRICS summit in Johannesburg next month. - He's avoiding the risk of arrest due to an International Criminal Court warrant for alleged war crimes. - Instead, Putin will participate via video conference, while Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will represent Russia in person. - South Africa's decision to avoid Putin's potential arrest is seen as a move to uphold international law and maintain relations with the West. Body: Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to skip the upcoming BRICS summit of leaders in Johannesburg to avoid the possibility of arrest on an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant for alleged war crimes. The news has attracted significant media attention over the past few weeks, and South Africa has been facing a dilemma regarding how to handle the situation. The arrest warrant for Putin was issued back in March, putting South Africa in a difficult position as the host country of the BRICS summit. However, the presidency has now confirmed that Putin will participate in the summit via video conference, and Russia will send Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to attend the event in person. According to the presidency spokesperson, the decision to have Putin attend virtually was not a difficult one. South Africa believes in upholding international law and has reached a mutual agreement with all BRICS members regarding this arrangement. This summit marks the first in-person gathering of BRICS leaders since the COVID-19 pandemic, adding to the significance of the decision. South Africa's relationship with the West has played a crucial role in this matter. Allowing Putin to attend the summit in person could have potentially strained diplomatic ties with Western nations. The move to have him participate via video conference appears to be a compromise that seeks to maintain international relations while still facilitating his involvement in the summit. The United States has responded to the decision, emphasizing that it reinforces their perception of Putin as a pariah who is unable to leave his country. The situation has been closely watched by global observers, and the choice made by South Africa holds broader implications for international diplomacy. Ending: In other news, South Africa's inflation data for yesterday showed a positive trend, with the consumer price index (CPI) coming down to 5.4% in June, the lowest figure in 20 months. However, economists remain cautious about the long-term outlook, predicting potential stickiness in inflation over the next few years. The South African Reserve Bank faces a pivotal decision on whether to raise interest rates to control inflation further.
BRICS, Jennifer Zabasajja, Sima Sultani, South Africa, Vladimir Putin, russia