Russia’s UN envoy Churkin dies at 64

Moscow, February 21

Russia’s combative ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, died suddenly in New York on Monday after being taken ill at work, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry gave no details on the circumstances of his death but offered condolences to his relatives and said the diplomat had died one day before his 65th birthday. It declined to comment on reports that Churkin had been taken to a hospital shortly before his death.

A US government official, who was not authorised to speak publicly on the case, said Churkin had died of an apparent heart attack.

A federal law enforcement official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said there appeared to be nothing unusual about the ambassador’s death. President Vladimir Putin was upset by the news and had greatly valued Churkin’s professionalism and diplomatic talent, news agencies quoted the Kremlin as saying. — Reuters