Putin to skip APEC summit in Chile, Kremlin says

Russian President Vladimir Putin has no plans to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Chile next month, the Kremlin said on Wednesday, adding that the decision had nothing to do with the ongoing riots in Chile. "It is not tied to the local riots," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters of Putin's decision to miss APEC.

Peskov added that Putin was planning meetings in Russia to tackle domestic issues during that time. Last week, Chile's Foreign Minister Teodoro Ribera said the government will not let the violent riots derail plans to host the APEC summit on Nov.16-17.

The protests over inequality have resulted in at least 18 dead and 7,000 arrested, Chilean prosecutors have said.