Lavrov to replace Putin at BRICS summit in South Africa

South Africa's presidency said on Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not attend the summit of the BRICS group of nations in South Africa in August but that Russia would be represented by its Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Report informs via foreign media that South Africa is due to host a summit of the BRICS club of nations -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa -- next month, which all of the heads of states of those countries are scheduled to attend.