With the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro approaching, Russian President Vladimir Putin may face a dilemma: attend the summit and risk arrest.
Ukraine Urges Brazil
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant for Putin's arrest in March 2023, accusing him of the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children during Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
While the Kremlin has dismissed the warrant as "null and void," the legal ramifications could impact his participation in the upcoming global event.
The prosecutor general of Ukraine, Andry Kostine, has urged Brazil to honor its obligations as a signatory of the Rome Statute, the ICC’s founding treaty, according to L'Independent.
Kostine reminded the country that if Putin attends the G20 summit on November 18-19, Brazil must comply with the international arrest warrant. In an interview with Reuters, Kostine emphasized that "Brazilian authorities have an obligation to arrest him if he dares to attend."
Left to Brazil's Justice System
According to the ICC, its member states are required to cooperate with the court under the Rome Statute, which came into force in 2002.
This includes executing arrest warrants and transferring indicted individuals to the ICC’s headquarters in The Hague.
Putin’s arrest warrant relates to charges stemming from the forced deportation of Ukrainian children — an action deemed illegal under international law.
Despite the legal pressure, there is uncertainty about whether Putin will attend the summit. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov recently stated that no decision had been made regarding Putin's participation.
Brazil’s President Lula has also given mixed signals. Initially, Lula suggested Putin would be invited to Rio, but he later walked back those comments, saying the matter of arresting Putin would be left to Brazil’s justice system if he attended.
