Breaking News: Putin's Absence Casts Shadows over BRICS Summit, says South African Presidency!

Russia's President, Vladimir Putin, will not attend THE BRICS summit in South Africa next month, as confirmed by the country's presidency. This decision comes after South Africa's leader stated that any attempt to arrest Putin would be seen as a declaration of war against Russia.

WARRANT ISSUED BY ICC

The International Criminal Court (ICC) had issued an arrest warrant for Putin if he left Russian soil, and since South Africa is an ICC signatory, there were expectations for the country to assist in his arrest. In response, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will represent the country at the summit.

However, Putin will still participate in the Brics conference through a video link. The Brics group consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa and is seen as an alternative to the G7 group of advanced economies.

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The decision for Putin not to attend the summit was described as "mutual" following consultations. It caused controversy nationally and internationally, as some saw it as South Africa straying from its neutral stance in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

The biggest opposition party in South Africa, the Democratic Alliance, went to court in an attempt to force authorities to arrest Putin if he entered the country, but President Cyril Ramaphosa opposed this move, citing national security concerns. Russia has maintained that the ICC arrest warrant is invalid since the country is not a member of the organization.

The African continent remains divided over the Russia-Ukraine war, with some countries hesitant to support UN resolutions condemning Russia due to economic ties with Moscow. South Africa's governing party, the African National Congress (ANC), has faced scrutiny for receiving donations from a sanctioned Russian oligarch, Viktor Vekselberg.

Overall, tensions and complexities surround Putin's absence from the summit, and South Africa's invitation to him had stirred significant debate.