The representative of Russian Foreign Ministry’s press service informed that as acting Permanent Representative to the organization after Vitaly Churkin’s unexpected death Pyotr Ilyichev has been appointed as a Russia’s First Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
According to TASS news agency, Ilyichev will head Russia’s diplomatic mission until the appointment of the new Permanent Representative.
Vitaly Churkin died on February 20, a day before his 65th birthday. He had been Russia’s UN ambassador since April 8, 2006, representing the country in the United Nations Security Council.