Moscow remains hopeful that President Vladimir Putin will be able to participate in the BRICS summit hosted by the Republic of South Africa, even as an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court looms over him. The Kremlin spokesperson stated that partner nations should not be swayed by what was described as illegal actions, signaling a desire to keep the bloc united in spite of court proceedings.
The ICC’s preliminary hearing in The Hague addressed the warrant issued for Putin and for Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian Federation’s Children’s Ombudsman. The charges allege the deportation of Ukrainian children, a controversial action that has drawn broad international attention. Russia has repeatedly rejected the court’s jurisdiction over its leaders, framing the move as politically motivated rather than judicially legitimate.
Meanwhile, officials in South Africa have highlighted that the BRICS discussions will proceed with certain diplomatic considerations. A declaration from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that exemptions and privileges would be granted to BRICS ministers and participants during the meetings, aligning with standard practice for major international gatherings. This framework aims to facilitate the focus on substantive agenda items while maintaining decorum and security for attendees.
In this context, the BRICS Ministerial Meeting was scheduled to take place in Cape Town on the first and second of June 2023, followed by the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg from the twenty second to the twenty fourth of August 2023. These dates underscored a busy calendar for the group, reflecting ongoing cooperation on political, economic, and development issues facing the member nations.
On May 30, the South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified the issue of diplomatic immunity granted to guests at the BRICS foreign ministers meeting and the associated summit. The ministry emphasized that such immunity does not override any authority that might be asserted by the International Court of Justice, indicating a careful balance between hosting responsibilities and international legal processes. This clarification underscored the complexity of navigating state obligations and international jurisprudence while hosting a multilateral forum of this scale.
Observers note that the intersection of an outstanding ICC warrant and high level attendance at a BRICS gathering highlights broader questions about accountability, sovereignty, and the procedures through which international bodies interact with national leadership. The discussions surrounding immunity and jurisdiction are likely to influence not only the immediate proceedings but also the broader political signaling of BRICS as a coalition seeking to assert its own norms and norms for engagement on the world stage. As the event approaches, attendees and monitor groups alike will be watching how the members reconcile legal processes with diplomatic commitments, a balance central to the credibility and effectiveness of the BRICS collaboration.