Russia has rejected a request by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa that Sergei Lavrov head the Russian delegation to the BRICS summit in August instead of Vladimir Putin. This was announced by the vice-president of the African country, Paul Mashatile. His words are quoted by the Russian media .
According to him, discussions with the Russian side about Putin's presence at the summit continue.
“We understand that we are bound by the Rome Statute, but we cannot invite someone, and then you will arrest him <…> We would be happy if he did not come,” Mashatile said.
Earlier today, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said that the upcoming BRICS summit in South Africa will be held in person, with the participation of the presidents of all five countries.
In early June, Reuters wrote that South Africa was looking for ways not to arrest Putin without violating its obligations to the International Criminal Court.
In March, the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for Putin, and a warrant was also issued for children's ombudsman Maria Lvova-Belova. The decision has direct consequences for both defendants, the lawyers explained to The Insider. Now any of the 123 countries that have ratified the Rome Statute is required to arrest them if they arrive.