The Russian government has declined the request made by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to have Sergei Lavrov, instead of Vladimir Putin, lead the Russian delegation at the upcoming BRICS summit in August. The information was shared by Paul Mashatile, the vice-president of South Africa, and has been reported by Russian media outlets, such as Kommersant and RBC.
According to Mashatile, discussions with the Russian side about Putin’s presence at the summit are ongoing.
“We understand we are bound by the Rome Statute but we can’t invite someone and then you arrest them. You can understand our dilemma,” Mashatile told local publication Mail & Guardian.
“We would be happy if he [Putin] doesn’t come,” he added.