Unic Press UK: Vitaly Churkin, 64-years-old, died in New York, United States, on Monday, the 20th February 2017, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
Churkin was married. He had two children.
We offer sincere condolences to the family of Vitaly Ivanovich Churkin.#Churkin #UN #Russia #condolences pic.twitter.com/XB37QP34nn
— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) February 20, 2017
Churkin, Doctor of Philosophy in history, had been the permanent representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations since 2006.
“Previously he was Ambassador at Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation (2003-2006), Ambassador to Canada (1998-2003), Ambassador to Belgium and Liaison Ambassador to NATO and WEU (1994-1998), Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation to the talks on Former Yugoslavia (1992-1994), Director of the Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the USSR/Russian Federation (1990-1992)”, the permanent mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations wrote on its website).
Condolence messages have been issued by his colleagues, the Russian government, his friends, his foes and notable diplomats:
Vitaly was a formidable adversary, but always a friend. My heartfelt condolences to his wife, Irina, his family and the Russian UN Mission https://t.co/hLx2bfnZlj
— Susan Rice (@AmbassadorRice) February 20, 2017
Devastated by passing of Russian UN Amb Vitaly Churkin.Diplomatic maestro &deeply caring man who did all he cld to bridge US-RUS differences
— Samantha Power (@SamanthaJPower) February 20, 2017
#Russia's Ambassador to the #UN Vitaly #Churkin, one of world's most brilliant diplomats, has passed away at the age of 64, R.I.P. pic.twitter.com/UJQHsDAsCg
— Russia in RSA 🇷🇺 (@EmbassyofRussia) February 20, 2017
Absolutely devastated to hear that my friend & colleague Vitaly Churkin has died. A diplomatic giant & wonderful character. RIP
— Matthew Rycroft (@MatthewRycroft1) February 20, 2017
Vladimir Putin expressed condolences to family and friends of the late Vitaly Churkin, Russia's UN Ambassador
— President of Russia (@KremlinRussia_E) February 20, 2017
