(UDHAYAM, NEW YORK) – Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations has died.
Vitaly Churkin, who would have celebrated his 65th birthday on Tuesday, died suddenly while at work in New York on Monday, Russia’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
The cause of the veteran diplomat’s death is unclear.
Mr Churkin had served as ambassador to the UN since 2006, developing a reputation as a steadfast defender of Russian policy.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was “grieved” to learn of the death of a man whose diplomatic talents he “highly esteemed”. The foreign ministry also paid tribute to an “outstanding diplomat”.
State television’s Rossiya24 praised him for “putting his opponents into shock” and leaving them with “nothing to say”.
Many of those “opponents” from around the world were also paying their respects to a colleague who they may have not always agreed with, but respected enormously. (Courtesy – BBC)
