Mr. Lavrov is the highest-ranking Russian representative attending Tuesday’s G20 session.
The Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov was brought to the hospital upon his arrival in Bali for the G20 conference yesterday, according to Indonesian officials.
Wayan Koster, the governor of Bali, stated that he was transported to the Sanglah Hospital in the provincial capital, Denpasar, for a “check-up” and was “immediately returned.”
Three further Indonesian government and medical authorities reported that he was receiving treatment on the resort island, with two of them stating that Mr. Lavrov was being treated for a heart problem.
The Russian foreign ministry denounced as “false news” reports that he had been hospitalized.
Maria Zakharova, director of the ministry’s communications department, stated in a Telegram message, “We cannot believe our eyes: he has been hospitalized.
“Of course, this is the aerobatics of forgeries. Wait, it’s a worldwide exclusive!”
Diana Magnay reported that Ms. Zakharova shared a video of Mr. Lavrov, Vladimir Putin’s foreign minister since 2004, working in shorts on a balcony.
In the footage, she asks the 72-year-old what he thinks of the reports, to which he responds that Western journalists have wrongly reported for a decade that Mr. Putin has been ill.
Mr. Lavrov smiled sarcastically as he stated, “This type of political game is not new.”
“Western journalists must be more honest; they must write the truth.”
Why is Lavrov at the summit of the G20?
Additionally, the Russian news agency TASS has posted an image that appears to show the minister smiling in front of a pool in Bali.
Mr. Lavrov is the highest-ranking Russian representative attending Tuesday’s G20 session.
“He is attending the G20 in place of Vladimir Putin, who opted not to come in person because being rejected on the international stage would have been bad optics,” Magnay explained.
“It will be intriguing to watch whom he meets with,” she continued. We will see how the leaders of the G20 respond,”
It is likely to be the most contentious G20 summit ever, with the annual “family photo” of all the leaders being canceled because many do not like to be photographed with members of Mr. Putin’s leadership.
Diplomats have also expressed reservations that, as is customary, leaders will be able to release a joint statement after the summit.
Although the majority would like to agree on a statement denouncing Russia, this will not occur because Russia would have to agree.
Joe Biden has already met his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, at the summit, marking their first face-to-face encounter since the inauguration of the United States president.
Both leaders agreed that it is their “duty” to demonstrate that the two countries can manage their differences, and Mr. Xi stated that he is ready for a “frank and in-depth exchange of views” with Mr. Biden.
