President Putin proposes legal workarounds for ICC arrest warrants

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) can be easily circumvented through a bilateral agreement.

He made these remarks during a meeting with media representatives from BRICS countries, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

“Such decisions are very simple to bypass. It's as straightforward as signing an intergovernmental agreement, which would limit the jurisdiction of the ICC. We have strong, stable relations with Brazil that have endured for many years, so essentially, an inter-legal agreement could be established, and no one would face difficulties,” Putin explained.

Despite this, Putin announced that he will not attend the G20 summit in Brazil scheduled for November 18-19 in Rio de Janeiro. He indicated that authorities would ensure a suitable representative is present to uphold the country’s interests.

The president elaborated that his absence was meant to avoid disrupting the forum and creating complications for Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. He suggested that even without the ICC warrant's implications, the focus of discussions would likely be on that issue.

Lula da Silva mentioned he would invite Putin to the G20 summit regardless of his attendance, stating, “If he participates, he knows what may or may not happen.” He clarified that any potential arrest would require a court order, which he does not personally decide but merely executes.

Earlier this year, Putin did not attend the BRICS summit in South Africa, opting instead to join via video link. South African officials, who have ratified the Rome Statute, were in direct communication with the Kremlin. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov represented Russia at that summit.

Putin also skipped the G20 summit in New Delhi on September 9-10, despite an invitation from Indian authorities, with Lavrov leading the Russian delegation instead. The Kremlin cited a “really busy schedule,” emphasizing ongoing priorities related to the special military operation.

In September, Putin visited Mongolia, where he was not arrested despite the ICC warrant, with Mongolian authorities citing a policy of neutrality.

 By Tamilla Hasanova