Live Updates: The Russian Foreign Ministry announced the death of Amb. Vitaly Churkin, Russia’s permanent representative to the United Nations.
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The ruble is trading at 57.95 to the dollar and 61.48 to the euro. Brent crude is selling for $56.17.
The following stories were taken from 7:40 na perrone, Currenttime.TV, Gazeta, Kommersant, Reuters, TV Rain, RBC and RosBalt.
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Translation: Vladimir Milov: Come to the march in memory of Boris Nemtsov on February 26: my video appeal.
— Catherine A. Fitzpatrick
Interfax reports that the cause of the death of Russian Amb. Vitaly Churkin was a heart attack.
Citing unnamed sources, The New York Post reported that Amb. Churkin was rushed unconscious to New York Presbyterian Hospital after complaining of “heart problems” at 9:30 this morning in his office at the Russian Mission to the UN on E. 67th Street.
Doctors were unable to resuscitate him and his death was announced at a UN meeting, the Post reported.
— Catherine A. Fitzpatrick
Updated with additional statement from Foreign Ministry
The Russian Foreign Ministry has announced that Amb. Vitaly Churkin, Russia’s envoy to the United Nations, died today, February 20, TV Rain reported.
The Foreign Ministry statement says (translation by The Interpreter):
“The Foreign Ministry of Russia with deep sorrow reports that on February 20, one day before his 65th birthday, V.I. Churkin, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the UN, died prematurely in New York.”
Interfax subsequently reported another statement from the Foreign Ministry (the Ministry’s web site is down):
“An outstanding Russian diplomat has departed this life at his workplace. We express our deep condolences to the relatives and friends of Vitaly Ivanovich Churkin.”
Interfax noted that Churkin was a 1974 graduate of the prestigous Moscow State Institute for International Relations (MGIMO) with a PhD in history from the USSR Diplomatic Academy. He immediately began his diplomatic career after graduation and was appointed deputy foreign minister from 1992-1994, then served as ambassador to Belgium and Canada, and was ultimately assigned to the UN in New York where he died.
— Catherine A. Fitzpatrick