Russian envoy to UN Churkin dies at 64

20 February 2017, 8:15 pm

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Russian officials say Moscow’s ambassador to the United Nations has died suddenly in New York City. Vitaly Churkin was 64.

Russia’s deputy UN ambassador, Vladimir Safronkov, told The Associated Press that Churkin became ill in his office at Russia’s UN mission and was taken to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, where he died Monday. His cause of death wasn’t immediately known.

Vitaly Churkin, Russia's Ambassador to the United Nations, speaks to a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on March 19, 2014, at UN headquarters in New York. (AFP/Stan Honda) — Vitaly Churkin, Russia’s Ambassador to the United Nations, speaks to a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on March 19, 2014, at UN headquarters in New York. (AFP/Stan Honda)

Churkin has been Russia’s envoy at the United Nations for a little over a decade and was considered Moscow’s great champion at the UN.

He had a reputation for an acute wit and sharp repartee especially with his American and Western counterparts. He was previously ambassador at large and earlier served as the foreign ministry spokesman.

— AP