The South African government has granted Russian President Vladimir Putin diplomatic immunity from arrest or detention, enabling him to attend the upcoming BRICS summit in Pretoria. The immunity was granted under the Diplomatic Immunity and Privileges Act and will apply to all international officials attending the summit.
The move has been met with criticism from some quarters, as Putin is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of war crimes committed during the invasion of Ukraine. However, the South African government has defended its decision, saying it is a routine procedure for international summits.
Putin has not yet confirmed whether to attend the summit, but his press secretary said Russia will participate “at an appropriate level.”
The BRICS summit is an annual meeting of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa leaders. It is seen as an important forum for cooperation between these emerging economies.
