http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/russian-ambassador-united-nations-dies-suddenly-n723311?cid=sm_npd_nn_fb_ma

By CORKY SIEMASZKO

Vitaly Churkin, the tough-talking Russian ambassador to the United Nations, died suddenly, officials said.

Churkin, who was 64, was at his desk at the Russian Consulate in Manhattan when he died, the Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed. But the ministry gave no details about the circumstances of his passing.

"A prominent Russian diplomat has passed away while at work," the Ministry said in a statement on its official website. "We'd like to express our sincere condolences to Vitaly Churkin's family.'

Born Feb. 21, 1952 in Moscow, Churkin died a day before his 65th birthday. And he was mourned by diplomats with whom he had sparred.

UN Ambassador Nikki Haley called Churkin "a gracious colleague."

"We did not always see things the same way, but he unquestionably advocated his country's positions with great skill," Haley said in a statement. "We send our prayers and heartfelt condolences to lift up his family and to the Russian people."

Former UN ambassador Samantha Powers tweeted her condolences, calling him a "Diplomatic maestro."

Churkin was a fierce defender of his country's policies, including Russia's much-criticized bombing last year of the Syrian city of Aleppo last year to oust rebels opposed to President Bashar Al-Assad.

During the presidential election, Churkin raised eyebrows by lodging a complaint about a UN official's criticism of then-candidate Donald Trump, the Associated Press reported.

It's not clear if Trump was aware that Churkin rose to his defense, but the Senate and House Intelligence Committees are now both investigating possible Russian interference in the presidential election.

Churkin began his 32-year diplomatic career in 1974 when Russia was still the driving force of the Soviet Union, according to a United Nations biography.

Fluent in English and French, Churkin was a child actor who appeared in pair of Communist-era movies about Lenin before he set out to become a diplomat.

Before arriving in New York City, Churkin was ambassador-at-large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation from 2003 to 2006. He was his country's ambassador to Canada from 1998 to 2003, and to Belgium from 1994 to 1998.

Prior to that, Churkin was deputy foreign minister of the Russian Federation from 1992 to 1994. And before that he headed the Information Department at the Foreign Ministry in the Soviet era.

Churkin made his first mark on the world stage in 1986 when at age 34 he became the first Russian diplomat to testify before a U.S. Congressional committee. He was questioned about the Chernobyl nuclear accident and asked to explain why Moscow waited for days before alerting its neighbors about the disaster.

It did not go well, as the Chicago Tribune reported in a story headlined "Soviet Envoy Does Dance For Congress."

Russians diplomats dying nowadays are one too many [color=#550000][/color]

Damian077:
Russians diplomats dying nowadays are one too many [color=#550000][/color]

Indeed. This is definitely raising some eyebrows.
The Russians have won too many enemies to themselves.

EdCure:

Indeed. This is definitely raising some eyebrows.
The Russians have won too many enemies to themselves.

maybe it was caused by Islam.
its surely the handiwork of Muhammed.
have u forgotten u can't Ve a sound opinion without mentioning Islam?
bring on ur obsession pls.

NOETHNICITY:
maybe it was caused by Islam.
its surely the handiwork of Muhammed.
have u forgotten u can't Ve a sound opinion without mentioning Islam?
bring on ur obsession pls.

See how slowly you are almost completely eaten up by a debilitating obsession. You want to be more moslem than the sultan, Dan fodio, Al Baghdadi and Shekau.

Unfortunately these people do not, and will never identify you as moslem when it matters most during their very frequent Islamic mayhem. Befuddled, hypnotic and sheepish moslem boneheads like you are always the first casualties.

And yes! Islam cannot be ruled out of this killing. If you still have a functioning grey matter in your hollow cranium, you will remember that the other Russian ambassador was actually murdered in Istanbul by a moslem chanting the name of your chaotic and blood-thirsty Allah.

EdCure:

See how slowly you are almost completely eaten up by a debilitating obsession. You want to be more moslem than the sultan, Dan fodio, Al Baghdadi and Shekau.

Unfortunately these people do not, and will never identify you as moslem when it matters most during their very frequent Islamic mayhem. Befuddled, hypnotic and sheepish moslem boneheads like you are always the first casualties.

And yes! Islam cannot be ruled out of this killing. If you still have a functioning grey matter in your hollow cranium, you will remember that the other Russian ambassador was actually murdered in Istanbul by a moslem chanting the name of your chaotic and blood-thirsty Allah.

I knew u wud ignorantly, uneducatedly and illiterately blame islam for this very case in issue even though it clearly had nothing to do with it. Thats the sorry state of the bigotry taking shape inside u.
Mentioning the sultan and Dan fodio with pple like shekau and his ilk confirms the astonishing level of ur illiteracy.
Frankly bro, u re badly in need of intellectual liberation.

Sun re o !