Putin dismisses two Russian ambassadors
Putin relieved Andrey Kelin of his duties as Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the United Kingdom.
Consensus
- Vladimir Putin dismissed Andrey Kelin from his position as Russia's ambassador to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.
- The dismissal of Andrey Kelin was formalized by a presidential decree published on the official legal portal.
- Kelin had served as ambassador since November 2019.
- Putin also dismissed Alexey Meshkov from his position as Russia's ambassador to France and Monaco.
- The dismissal of Meshkov occurred one day before Kelin's, on September 24.
- The Kremlin has not yet published an appointment for a new ambassador to the UK.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the appointment of a new ambassador is the president's prerogative and will be announced in due time.
- No reasons were given for the dismissals in any of the sources.
- Both Kelin and Meshkov had long-standing diplomatic careers, with Kelin having served since 1979 and Meshkov since 2004.
Points of divergence
- Putin dismissed two ambassadors within two days—Kelin from the UK and Meshkov from France—and the Kremlin decided not to rush with new appointments. — tg_echoonline_news
- Kelin was appointed ambassador on November 5, 2019, and has held the rank of extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassador since 2012. — vedomosti
- Kelin completed his duties on the post planfully, and the appointment of a new ambassador will be announced in due time. — interfax
- Kelin may be replaced by former ambassador of the US to Russia, Sergey Kislyak, in the State Duma. — kommersant
- In early September, Putin also dismissed Elbrus Kutrashov from Iraq and appointed Timur Pechatkin; he also made other personnel changes in defense and military leadership. — vm
- Andrey Pod'yelyshev was appointed ambassador to North Korea and relieved of his post in Nigeria; Vyacheslav Gladkov was appointed ambassador to Abkhazia. — m24
Coverage (8 sources)
- Former Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Andrey Kelin became a senator from Mordovia — Коммерсантъ
- Putin fired two ambassadors in two days — in France and the UK. The Kremlin decided not to rush with appointing new ones — ЭХО / Новости
- Putin relieved Andrey Kelin of duties as Russia's ambassador to the United Kingdom — Ведомости
- Putin relieved Andrey Kelin of duties as Russian ambassador to the United Kingdom — Интерфакс
- Putin relieved Kelin of the post of Russian ambassador to the United Kingdom — Коммерсантъ
- Vladimir Putin relieved Andrey Kelin of the post of Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom — Вечерняя Москва
- Kelin left the post of Russian Federation ambassador in the United Kingdom — Вести
- Putin relieved Kelin of duties as ambassador to the UK and Northern Ireland — Москва 24
Key entities
- Russia
- Andrey Kelin
- Great Britain
- Vladimir Putin
- MID
- Northern Ireland
- France
- Maria Zakharov
- Mordovia
- Moscow
- Kremlin
- INTERFAX.RU
- USA
More on Andrey Kelin
- Russia Delays New Ambassadors to UK and France
- Russia's UK Ambassador Kelin Completes Mission
- Russia Denies Plans to Downgrade UK Diplomatic Ties
More on Vladimir Putin
- If China organizes a meeting between Putin
- Moscow's Migration Control Experiment Proves Successful
- Putin awarded 51 employees of Channel One