Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday officially announced, by decree, the dismissal of Russia’s permanent representative to the European Union, Vladimir Chizhov, who had been in office for 17 years, the official TASS news agency reported.
According to the presidential decree, the 68-year-old diplomat is simultaneously leaving his duties “as the permanent representative of the Russian Federation to the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community in Brussels.”
Chisov had already announced that he was stepping down and hosted a farewell party on September 8 in Brussels, which was boycotted by EU diplomats.
At the time, according to the European publication Euractiv, Chisov He made “sarcastic comments” about the European Union, but did not mention the issues that led to a historic deterioration in relations with Russia, namely the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the invasion of Ukraine on February 24 this year.
“As a prominent European figure told me years ago, the European Union never ceases to impress. He said at the time.
“It is no longer convenient for me to serve as a living monument to the strategic partnership between Russia and the European Union. There will be no return to previous relations with the European Union,” he was quoted by the Greek newspaper Athens News as saying.
Prior to his appointment as Russia’s representative to the European Union in 2005, Chizhov served as Deputy Foreign Minister for three years.
The name of Chezov’s successor remains unknown, and it will have to be ratified by each of the EU member states.
“Hardcore alcohol maven. Hipster-friendly analyst. Introvert. Devoted social media advocate.”
