Justice may order Putin’s arrest in Brazil, but immunity is tradition, says chancellor

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Vieira, did not rule out the possibility that the Brazilian justice system would issue an arrest order against Russian President Vladmir Putin at the G20 leader’s summit. The event, which will take place in Rio de Janeiro in November, does not yet have confirmation of the Russian leader’s participation.

In an interview with CNNthe chancellor stated, however, that there is a “tradition of immunity” for heads of state. If there is an arrest order, therefore, there is provision for protection and privileges for leaders participating in events of this nature.

“Even in New York, the United Nations is on American territory, there is a headquarters agreement that requires different treatment and immunities to be granted to heads of state who participate in UN assemblies. So, it’s the same thing”, he stated.

The basis for the determination would be the arrest warrant already opened against the Russian president at the International Criminal Court (ICC), and calls for the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children during the war started against the country in 2022.

The decision would force the 124 member countries, including Brazil, to arrest him and transfer him to trial in The Hague.

In the last meetings of the bloc’s leaders, the Russian president was not present.