By S’thembile Cele July 19, 2023 at 6:57 AM EDT

Russian President Vladimir Putin won’t attend next month’s summit of BRICS leaders and will instead be represented by his foreign minister, South Africa’s presidency said. The rand pared its earlier losses. Putin’s decision means the South African authorities will avoid having to execute an International Criminal Court warrant for the Russian leader’s arrest.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will attend the summit in Putin’s stead, the presidency said in a statement on Wednesday. The decision for Putin not to attend was by mutual consent, it said.

    • Xenon@lemmy.worldOP
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      1 year ago

      Imagine having a “president” with less freedom to travel than Kim Jong Un.

      • Crow@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        But Putin gets to be the richest man in the word by hiding his wealth where he can never access it, being under the constant threat of assassination, hates by the free world, and not being able to visit countries other than Russian allies. What’s not to want?!

    • zephyrvs@lemmy.ml
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      1 year ago

      SA ignored an ICC warrant in 2015 already and it was basically shrugged off.

  • superkret@feddit.de
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    1 year ago

    Putin looks like he has no power left at all. Just a couple days ago he told the South African president that he plans to attend, and arresting him would be seen as a declaration of war.
    Now he pulls back. Another L for Putin on the international stage. He can’t even attend a summit of aligned nations anymore.

  • zephyrvs@lemmy.ml
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    1 year ago

    Smart move. Forcing South Africa’s hand for a PR win doesn’t make any sense. Lavrov has been touring Africa over the past weeks anyways.

  • anteaters@feddit.de
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    1 year ago

    lol BRICS are going strong I see. Is there a more useless group that hates each other more than them?

      • anteaters@feddit.de
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        1 year ago

        Man you people get angry when confronted with reality. Must be exhausting being you.

        • ghost_laptop@lemmy.ml
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          1 year ago

          You are the one who negates reality, literally your white colonizer empire is collapsing and in decay and you somehow think you are a vibrant democracy. You will have a hard time when the rules world order get turned and the rest of the world stops caring about the West

          • anteaters@feddit.de
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            1 year ago

            It’s fun to see you projecting all your worst fears onto me without knowing anything. Angry, scared little man that you are.

            • ghost_laptop@lemmy.ml
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              1 year ago

              What fears, I don’t live in the imperial core, and I am already oppressed by your empire, the only thing I could wish is that your shit holes country implode. I am not scared, I am thrilled to see a future where the West cannot do as they please without consequences

              • anteaters@feddit.de
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                1 year ago

                A little boy seeing evil empires around him that are the reason for his failure is indeed very brave, true.

        • zephyrvs@lemmy.ml
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          1 year ago

          Yeah, the post you’re replying to is definitely filled with anger.