Russia's U.N. Envoy Churkin Dies 'Unexpectedly'
Russia's envoy to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin died suddenly on Monday, the foreign ministry said, without giving details of the cause.
"On February 20, the Permanent Representative of Russia in the U.N. Vitaly Churkin unexpectedly died in New York," it said in a statement.
Churkin was 64 and died one day before turning 65, the ministry said, offering condolences to his family. "The outstanding Russian diplomat passed away on his post," it said.
Churkin had served in the role since 2006. Previously he worked at the foreign ministry in Moscow, served as an envoy to Canada (1998-2003), Belgium (1994-1998) and as a special representative to the talks on former Yugoslavia (1992-1994).
The news of his death was met with shock at the U.N. headquarters. Diplomats holding a routine meeting on General Assembly affairs observed a moment of silence.
U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq, who heard the news during the regular daily briefing, offered his condolences, adding: "We mourn Ambassador Churkin. He has been such a regular presence here that I'm actually quite stunned."
20 February 2017, 19:47
02
Russian intelligence is not so crude. They have more efficient way of terminating people. I wonder if this had anything to do with the recent UN vote on the settlement which Russia attempted to delay on the behest of Israel.
20 February 2017, 19:50
02
I do not claim to have specific insight into this but one should read this article in full. If the information is true, someone must have leaked secret information to the media http://www.counterpunch.org/2017/02/15/the-putin-netanyahu-bromance/
20 February 2017, 20:02
02
How Sad..... How Awful.... How Sudden
Comrade Vitaly Churkin was someone I looked up to as a mentor and an intellectual.
20 February 2017, 20:38
20
RIP... he served as key figure to stop and denounce the American barbarism when it comes to interferences, invasions, spreading of terrorism and supporting zionism.
20 February 2017, 20:49
00
Aha .... Putin Russia is a very good friend of the right wing Zionists in Israel and have invaded several countries and interfered in several more. US is definitely not an angel but slizern comments lack perspective
20 February 2017, 21:11
10
"... comments lack perspective": Yes, Yes for the wahabiDemocrat.com and his boyfriends only....
20 February 2017, 21:18
01
Thank you for showing us yet again that you have no perspective or intellect
20 February 2017, 21:27
10
taking about perspective and intellect, really is insulting!
we have already exposed you for being a sectarian propagandist, hide yourself or even kill yourself....
20 February 2017, 23:40
01
Slizern, who was exposed as what? People can read and assess who is the sectarian slime who justify murder and untold crimes. As for the rest of your comment, I will not hide nor will I kill. What I have to say have infinitely more profound morality than the hatred that yoou spew on this forum.
