Russian ambassador to United States Alexander Darchiev dies at 66

Russia’s foreign ministry said ambassador Alexander Darchiev died suddenly on Wednesday at the age of 66. The diplomat had been appointed to the United States post last March, a year and a half after taking up the role.

Moscow described Darchiev as an “outstanding diplomat, an experienced leader and a kind colleague” who worked in a critical area of Russian foreign policy and was a specialist in Russia-US relations. No further details on the cause of death were provided.

Darchiev, born into a diplomatic family, began his service in 1992, later heading the North America department of the foreign ministry. He served as an adviser to the Russian embassy in Washington in 1997 and as minister-counsellor from 2005 to 2010. He was Russia’s ambassador to Canada between 2014 and 2021, returned to lead the North America department in 2010, and held that position again until last year.

In 2022, when Russia launched its offensive against Ukraine, Darchiev called the action a “necessary measure.”