Russian ambassador to the United States, Alexander Darchiev, dies

The ministry reported his passing in a statement released on Wednesday, noting he had held the ambassadorship for a year and a half.

Details surrounding his death have not been disclosed by Moscow.

The Foreign Ministry described Darchiev as an “outstanding diplomat, an experienced leader and a kind colleague,” emphasizing his crucial role in Russian foreign policy, particularly concerning relations with the US.

He assumed the position in March of last year, a period marked by the return of US President Donald Trump and ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

During the 2022 Russian offensive in Ukraine, Darchiev characterized the action as a “necessary measure.”

Darchiev’s father, Nikita Ivanovich Darchiev, was a diplomat and minister-counsellor at the Russian Embassy in Hungary, according to TASS.

He began his diplomatic career in 1992, initially serving as first secretary and leading the North America department within the Russian Foreign Ministry.

His previous roles included advising the Russian Embassy in the US in 1997 and serving as minister-counsellor from 2005 to 2010. He also served as Russia’s ambassador to Canada from 2014 to 2021.

Darchiev later directed the North America department in the Foreign Ministry again from 2010 until his most recent appointment.