Fact Check: Putin skips BRICS summit due to ICC arrest warrant.

Fact Check: Putin Skips BRICS Summit Due to ICC Arrest Warrant

What We Know

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the upcoming BRICS summit in Brazil due to an outstanding arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The ICC issued this warrant in March 2023, accusing Putin of committing war crimes related to the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which began in 2022 (The Moscow Times, Reuters). Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed that Putin would participate in the summit via video link instead of attending in person, citing "certain difficulties in the context of the ICC’s requirements" (Business Live, News24).

As a member of the ICC, Brazil is obligated to arrest Putin if he enters its territory, which significantly influences his decision to skip the summit (US News). This situation is not new; Putin previously avoided attending a BRICS summit in South Africa for similar reasons (MSN).

Analysis

The claim that Putin is skipping the BRICS summit due to the ICC arrest warrant is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The Kremlin's official statement, as reported by various news outlets, confirms that the ICC warrant is the primary reason for his absence (The Moscow Times, Reuters).

The reliability of these sources is high; they include established news organizations such as Reuters and The Moscow Times, which have a history of accurate reporting on international affairs. Additionally, the information aligns with the legal obligations of ICC member states, which further supports the claim's validity.

Critically, while the Kremlin has dismissed the ICC warrant as "null and void" due to Russia not being a signatory to the ICC's founding treaty, the practical implications of the warrant remain significant. The risk of arrest in a member state like Brazil is a substantial deterrent for Putin's international travel (Business Live, US News).

Conclusion

The claim that "Putin skips BRICS summit due to ICC arrest warrant" is True. The evidence from multiple reliable sources confirms that the outstanding ICC arrest warrant is the reason for Putin's decision to participate via video link rather than attending the summit in person. The Kremlin's acknowledgment of the warrant's implications further solidifies this conclusion.