– JOHANNESBURG, JULY 19 – Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the BRICS (South Africa, Brazil, India, China and Russia) group summit, which will be held in Johannesburg on August 22-24. This was reported by the South African office. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is to take his place.
“By mutual agreement, the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin will not attend the summit, but the Russian Federation will be represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov,” said a statement from the South African Presidency, shared with ANSA on the “historic 15.” Summit of BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa”, “the first” held “in attendance” after the Covid pandemic.
The announcement ends months of uncertainty over the Kremlin chief’s involvement due to his potential arrest under the mandate of the International Criminal Court, of which South Africa is a part. Pretoria also found itself in a difficult position because it refused to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
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