Russia sends technocrat to G20 as Putin skips Johannesburg summit

US president will also not be attending

- By Queenin Masuabi

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be attending the G20 summit in Johannesburg this month as he faces an International Criminal Court case.

(Getty Images)

President Vladimir Putin has appointed a senior technocrat from his presidential staff to lead Russia's delegation at this month's G20 summit in Johannesburg, replacing his long-serving foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, amid reports of a significant rift between the Kremlin and its top diplomat.

The reshuffle comes as Putin, who has an International Criminal Court case hanging over his head, joins US President Donald Trump in skipping the November 20-24 gathering, which is expected to be dominated by discussions on global economic stability, energy security, and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

In a decree issued this week, Putin named Maksim Oreshkin, deputy chief of staff of the presidential administration, to head the Russian contingent.

Oreshkin, a trusted aide and former economic development minister, will be supported by a delegation of deputy ministers and presidential advisers.