Russia Defies South Africa's Plea to Exclude Putin from BRICS Summit

Russia has rejected a request from South Africa not to send President Vladimir Putin to the upcoming BRICS summit in Johannesburg. South Africa, as a signatory of the Rome Statute that governs the International Criminal Court (ICC), would be required to arrest Putin if he travels there due to an ICC indictment against him. South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile expressed the country's dilemma, stating that they cannot invite someone and then arrest them. South Africa had proposed for Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to lead Russia's delegation instead, but the proposal was rejected. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa remains committed to holding an in-person summit despite the ICC warrant against Putin.