Hybrid BRICS sitting to avoid Putin’s attendance explored
JOHANNESBURG - The South African Government might have to ensure that Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the 2023 BRICS summit remotely. This is one avenue government is pursuing to obviate the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) order for his arrest upon his arrival on South African soil - as the country is a signatory member of the organisation.
The 15th BRICS summit, where the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa will convene, will be held in Johannesburg between August 22 and 24.
Summit
Additionally, the summit will host other national entities from the global south - including Bangladesh, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates - in an attempt to expand these emerging economies globally.
According to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s March oral replies to National Assembly’s questions, the summit is integral to building strong trade relations internationally and accelerating infrastructure development domestically.
Exploring
However, City Press understands the South African Government is exploring the concept of a hybrid sitting, where some leaders might physically attend in Johannesburg, while others like Putin - attend virtually. According to a government official, “The Ramaphosa administration is the one that revoked the earlier decision to leave the ICC and decided the country would stay. So they can’t now go against their own decision by allowing Putin to come. They would not want to take decisions that might harm the interest of the country in the long-term. South Africa does not want to be a pariah State.” The question of whether to allow Putin into the country is complex on an international scale.
Just over a year after Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the ICC issued two arrest warrants for high-ranking officials.
The first — for Putin himself and the second for Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights Maria Lvova-Belovasa, both of whom are charged with the unlawful transfer of children from Ukraine to Russia, among other crimes.
The ICC holds jurisdiction under the Rome Statute: A treaty designed to keep political leaders accountable for crimes on the international stage. In October, South Africa attempted to leave the ICC but ultimately revoked its request after government’s high court deemed it unconstitutional.
If the South African Government does not abide by the ICC’s ruling and fails to arrest Putin upon arrival, the risk of retribution from Russia is small, according to Daily Maverick associate editor and Former US diplomat Brooks Spector.
“First, (Russia) is very far away,” he said. “Second, the amount of trade between Russia and South Africa is… certainly derisory in comparison to trading with Western Europe and the United States.”
Most South Africans support Ukraine, Spector added, while others feel indebted to the Soviet Union for their distribution of aid to anti-apartheid activists at the end of the last century.