Russia's Chief Justice Igor Krasnov arrived in New Delhi on Friday, 4 September to participate in the BRICS Chief Justices' Forum, hosted by the Supreme Court of India. Russian Ambassador to India Denis Alipov and other officials received Krasnov at the airport. During his visit, Krasnov is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with judicial counterparts from BRICS member countries, with a focus on strengthening legal cooperation.

Key Arrivals and Bilateral Engagements

Iran's Head of Judiciary, Ayatollah Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, also arrived in New Delhi to attend the forum. He offered prayers at Jama Masjid and held a meeting with its Imam, Maulana Syed Shaban Bukhari. Ayatollah Mohseni-Ejei also interacted with Islamic scholars and religious leaders from various faiths at the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi.

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant is holding a series of bilateral meetings with heads of judicial delegations. On Friday, he met judicial leaders from Russia, China, Egypt, Indonesia, the UAE, Belarus, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Iran and Uzbekistan. 'The bilateral meetings will provide an opportunity for direct interaction and exchange of views on matters of mutual judicial interest and will further strengthen engagement among the participating judiciaries,' the Supreme Court of India noted in a statement.

Forum Agenda: AI, Arbitration and Sustainable Development

The forum, running from 4 to 6 September in New Delhi, brings together Chief Justices, Presidents of Supreme Courts, and senior judicial leaders from BRICS member states and partner countries. According to the Supreme Court, the substantive sessions will focus on four key areas: Mediation and International Commercial Disputes, examining mediation as a strategic mechanism in a globalised economy; Cross-Border Enforcement of Arbitral Awards, addressing enforcement challenges and prospects for procedural harmonisation; Artificial Intelligence and the Judiciary, exploring digital innovation and the future of judicial administration; and Judicial Leadership and Sustainable Development, considering the judiciary's role in ecological governance and sustainable energy systems.

Notably, the Russian Embassy confirmed in a post on Telegram that 'the central event will be a discussion on the use of artificial intelligence in justice' — signalling that AI in courts is emerging as a shared priority across BRICS judicial systems.

Who Is Speaking at the Forum

On the second day, heads of delegations from BRICS member states and partner countries will address the forum. Judicial leaders representing Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, South Africa and the UAE will speak, alongside partner countries including Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan.

India's BRICS Chairship and Broader Context

India's BRICS Chairship is guided by the theme 'Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability', reflecting a people-centric approach articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 2025 Rio Summit. BRICS currently comprises 11 member states — Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates — along with 10 partner countries. This forum represents one of the most significant multilateral judicial gatherings India has hosted under its BRICS Chairship, with the outcomes expected to shape judicial cooperation frameworks across the Global South for years ahead.