By mutual agreement, President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation will now not attend the summit, a spokesman for President Cyril Ramaphosa, said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will no longer attend a BRICS countries summit in South Africa subsequent month, the country’s presidency stated on Wednesday, ending months of speculation.
Putin’s possible go to has been a thorny diplomatic problem for South Africa.
The Russian chief is the goal of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant — a provision that Pretoria as an ICC member would be anticipated to put into effect had been he to set foot in the country.
“By mutual agreement, President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation will now not attend the summit, however the Russian Federation will be represented by means of Foreign Minister Mr (Sergei) Lavrov,” Vincent Magwenya, a spokesman for President Cyril Ramaphosa, stated in a statement.
The choice follows “a variety of consultations” held through Ramaphosa in current months, the most latest of which took vicinity “last night,” Magwenya said.
South Africa is the present day chair of the BRICS group, a gathering of heavyweights that additionally consists of Brazil, Russia, India and China, which sees itself as a counterweight to Western financial domination.
Putin was once formally invited to BRICS summit due to take region in Johannesburg between August 22 and 24, however Pretoria has been beneath heavy home and worldwide stress no longer to host him.
“President Ramaphosa is assured that the Summit will be a success and calls on the state to lengthen the essential hospitality to the many delegates who will arrive from quite a number components of the continent and the globe,” Magwenya said.
Putin is sought by using the ICC over accusations that Russia unlawfully deported Ukrainian children.