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NBCJul 04, 2023
The Facts
Russian Pres. Putin will not attend the summit of BRICS countries next month, a statement from the presidency of host country South Africa confirmed on Wednesday.
Putin will instead be represented by his top diplomat, foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, the statement from South Africa said — with the decision reportedly coming via "mutual agreement" between the two countries.
The Spin
Establishment-critical narrative
Arresting Putin would jeopardize South Africa's decades-long relationship with Russia and this would, in turn, threaten South Africa's peace, security, and prosperity. Arresting a head of state who ought to enjoy diplomatic immunity is both irresponsible and reckless.
Pro-establishment narrative
The arguments put forward by Cyril Ramaphosa are both farcical and inconsistent. He argues that South Africa ought to respect the sovereignty of Russia. Meanwhile, Russia is ignoring the sovereignty of Ukraine by waging an illegal invasion.
