South Africa Grants Putin Diplomatic Immunity for BRICS Summit

South Africa plans to extend its Diplomatic Immunity and Privileges Act to all international officials attending the BRICS summit in August, paving the way for Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend despite an ICC arrest warrant issued in March over alleged war crimes in Ukraine. South Africa may be obliged to arrest Putin if he sets foot in the country, but the government is looking for a possible loophole in the Rome Statute to enable Putin to attend without arrest. Russia has granted Putin immunity from prosecution, making it unlikely that he will be arrested.