S. Africa Reportedly Considers Virtual BRICS Summit To Avoid Putin Arrest Dilemma

Semafor Africa runs a source report noting that South Africa is considering hosting a meeting of BRICS leaders in August virtually in order to avoid having to choose whether to execute the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

• Sources told the news platform that the option has been discussed by the inter-ministerial committee headed by Deputy President Paul Mashatile and tasked with exploring legal technicalities surrounding Putin's participation in the summit.
• The website reports that "under the plan, most summit events would still take place in South Africa, such as the high profile BRICS Business Forum and the meeting of Foreign Ministers," while "the meeting of the heads of state would be the only part held online."
• Speaking alongside his Portugese counterpart today, President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed that the committee dealing with the BRICS summit met on Monday and could submit its report to the Cabinet as soon as "tomorrow or another day."
• Taking the summit online had been touted as one of the scenarios that would allow South Africa to dodge the legal dilemma posed by Putin's arrest warrant. Other options mentioned in the media involved changing the venue of the summit to China or another African country.