Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva canceled a trip to Russia after suffering a head injury in an accident at his home on Saturday.
The 78-year-old was due to travel to the BRIC summit, which consists of major developing countries including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, on Sunday afternoon.
A top hospital in the capital Brasilia said it advised the president to avoid taking long-distance flights for the time being.
He will now participate in the meeting via video link.
The Sirio Libanes Hospital in Brasilia said in a statement that the president had been advised not to travel long distances but could continue other activities as normal.
The statement added that Lula was injured on the back of his head and was under the supervision of doctors.
The president’s office said he will participate in the summit virtually from Brasilia and will continue his other work.
His office did not release any details about his injuries.
Local media quoted hospital doctors as saying the president was sent home on Saturday after receiving five stitches.
He later returned to the hospital for a follow-up visit on Sunday morning before being sent home, local media said.
Lula was scheduled to leave at 17:00 local time (20:00 GMT) on Sunday for his first face-to-face meeting with President Vladimir Putin this year.
On Friday, Putin announced that he would not attend next month’s G20 summit in Brazil.
He said his arrival could “disrupt” the meeting and insisted an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for him was not a factor.
Last year, Putin Absent from the last BRICS summit held in South Africa After the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for his arrest.
If Putin leaves Russian territory, he will be subject to an arrest warrant. As signatories to the International Criminal Court, South Africa and Brazil are expected to assist in Putin’s arrest.
Some view the BRICS group as an alternative to the G7 of developed economies.
The forum was founded 15 years ago by major emerging market countries such as Brazil, Russia, India, and China, and has now expanded to South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates.
This year’s summit will be held from Tuesday to Thursday in the Russian city of Kazan.
