On February 20, 2017 His Excellency Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations Vitaly I.Churkin suddenly passed away. Ambassador was in his office fulfilling his duties when the tragedy occurred. He was an outstanding, energetic and respectable diplomat. We mourn together with his family and his beloved ones.

On February 21 Ambassador Vitaly Churkin would have celebrated 65 years. He dedicated most of his life to diplomatic service standing for his country’s interests – more than 40 years in total, of which 20 years he worked as Ambassador to Belgium, Canada and most recently as the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN (since 2006). There is no doubt that his professional and personal lives would serve as a remarkable example for many generations of Russian diplomats. Russian diplomatic service suffers great loss today.

The memory of Ambassador Vitaly Churkin shall remain in our hearts and minds forever.