The nation’s president has introduced that the Russian president is not going to attend the summit in South Africa subsequent month.
The announcement comes after South Africa mentioned any try and arrest Vladimir Putin could be a declaration of conflict in opposition to Russia.
If Mr Putin had left Russian soil, he would have been topic to an Worldwide Prison Court docket (ICC) arrest warrant.
South Africa is a signatory to the ICC and is predicted to assist arrest Mr Putin.
In accordance with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Russian International Minister Sergey Lavrov will symbolize the nation on the two-day summit.
The choice to ask Mr. Putin, who is needed in Ukraine for conflict crimes, to South Africa has triggered an ideal controversy within the nation.
The biggest opposition celebration, the Democratic Alliance, had gone to court docket to drive the authorities to be arrested if Mr Putin ever set foot within the nation.
Court docket paperwork present that President Ramaphosa strongly opposes any such transfer, saying nationwide safety is in danger.
“Russia has made it clear that imprisoning sitting presidents could be a declaration of conflict. Risking conflict with Russia is inconsistent with our Structure,” he mentioned in an affidavit.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned Moscow’s arrest of South Africa’s president was an act of conflict, however added: “It’s clear to everybody what an assault on the top of the Russian authorities means.”
Russia has described the ICC’s arrest warrant as offensive and legally void as a result of the nation isn’t a member of the group.
The approaching collectively of BRICS nations – an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – in August is seen by some as a substitute for the G7 group of superior economies.