Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva assured on Saturday that Russian leader Vladimir Putin would not face arrest in Brazil should he attend the upcoming Group of 20 summit in Rio de Janeiro next year.
In an interview conducted on the sidelines of the G20 gathering in Delhi, President Lula conveyed his confidence that Putin would receive an invitation to the event, even disclosing his intention to participate in a BRICS meeting preceding the Rio summit.
“I firmly believe that President Putin can visit Brazil without hindrance,” President Lula remarked. “What I can affirm is that, should I assume the presidency of Brazil, and he chooses to come, there is unequivocally no possibility of his arrest.”
The International Criminal Court, in a significant development this March, issued a warrant for Putin’s arrest, alleging his involvement in war crimes, particularly the unlawful deportation of numerous Ukrainian children. Russia vehemently denies any complicity in war crimes or the forced removal of Ukrainian children.
Putin, known for his recurrent absence from international gatherings, notably did not attend the G20 assembly in Delhi, instead deputing Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
It is pertinent to note that Brazil, a signatory to the Rome Statute that underpins the ICC, remains committed to its obligations. At present, President Lula’s office has not issued an official response to queries on this matter.
On the same day, the G20 member nations reached a consensus declaration, avoiding explicit condemnation of Russia’s actions in the Ukraine conflict while urging all countries to abstain from employing force to seize territory.
Reuters
