The height of Maria Zakharova, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Maria Zakharova - biography, information, personal life. Family is a closed area

Maria Vladimirovna Zakharova is an influential diplomat and official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry. Born on December 24, 1975 in a diplomatic family.

Childhood

Maria spent her childhood in Beijing, where her love for history and the East was born, which has remained to this day. A long stay in China left its indelible mark and influenced the girl’s character. She admired Chinese art, especially liked the national double-sided embroidery.

Later, she will transfer the values of Eastern philosophy into her style of work and in one of her interviews she will say that even if you need to sew so that it looks beautiful from the inside out, then you need to work the same way. And all her life she made such high demands not only on those around her, but also on herself.

After graduating from school, Maria and her family return to Moscow and enter MGIMO to study international journalism with a specialization in Oriental studies. Naturally, this choice was not a surprise to anyone. The girl simply continued to develop in an environment familiar to her from childhood.

Start of a career

In 1998, after completing her studies, she was able to briefly return to the familiar Beijing. There she completed postgraduate internship at the Russian Embassy. By the way, Maria also defended her PhD thesis on the topic of Oriental studies, supported by studies of modern China.

Your first real workplace Maria received it in the Diplomatic Bulletin magazine under the Russian Foreign Ministry. It was there that Maria met with her first leader, Alexander Yakovenko, who later took the post of Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Yakovenko was then one of the few leaders who adhered to the principles of teamwork. He not only carefully selected his employees, but also taught them high-quality professional interaction, in which personal authority or achievements were put at the forefront, and the overall team result of work. Maria remains faithful to these principles to this day.

Success story

Soon Maria was transferred to the Department of Information and Press at the Russian Foreign Ministry, where in 2003 she already took the post of head of the department. She successfully worked there until 2005, when she was transferred to New York as press secretary of the Russian Embassy to the UN.

In 2008, Zakharova returned to Moscow again to her position, but in 2011 she already became deputy head of the entire Department of Press and Information at the Russian Foreign Ministry.

At this time, she was already becoming quite a famous and influential person, who was familiar to Russians thanks to the popular political television talk shows “Politics”, “Sunday Evening with Vladimir Solovyov”, etc., in which Maria regularly takes part. It's always interesting to listen to her because she is not afraid to openly express her opinions and raise truly pressing issues.

In August 2015, Maria Zakharova became the first woman in Russian history to head the Department of Press and Information at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She is also appointed official representative Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Zakharova on social networks

Maria Zakharova is one of the first Russian diplomatic figures who actively use such a reality of our time as social networks in their work. Social networks are not just a propaganda tool for her political activity diplomatic mission, but also a source of feedback.

This way she manages to keep her finger on the pulse public opinion, to see the very “wrong side” of her active work, which she remembers all her life. Her grandmother taught her this and she instills this same quality in her daughter.

In January 2017, Maria received the first order in her life. It was presented by Vladimir Putin himself - the “Order of Friendship”.

For good service and work for the benefit of Russia, Zakharova was promoted in 2017. She is now “Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, 1st Class.”

Maria Zakharova constantly holds press conferences with media representatives in order to tell latest news. In her opinion, the world is now more than ever opposed to the Russians, and this must be resisted.

Zakharova in 2018, after the loud scandal with the poisoning of the Skripal family, spoke quite harshly about the conduct of British politics, allegedly they were to blame for the genocide of the Tasmanians and Boers in the 19th century and for the murder of Grigory Rasputin.

Maria Zakharova never stands aside from the events that take place in world politics. She always expresses her opinion on what is happening and writes it on the Internet.

She also did not stand aside when they wanted to close the Telegram social network. Maria believes that these are very strict measures and it would be possible to simply introduce mandatory registration of all users, and not immediately close the network.

Maria Zakharova is the first woman in the history of Russian diplomacy to be appointed to the post of official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry. She is one of the most quoted diplomats in Russia and is known for her “sharp” statements on social networks. The new speaker of the diplomatic department is being compared to the ex-speaker of the US State Department, who is often ridiculed in Russia for.
For informality of speech and ability to present diplomatic information In “living” language and in an extraordinary manner, Zakharova is called “Anti-Psaki,” considering Maria the main media person of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Maria Vladimirovna Zakharova was born on December 24, 1975 in the family Russian diplomats, who at one time worked in Beijing. Childhood of the future speaker Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs took place in the capital of the People's Republic of China, thanks to which Maria is fluent in Chinese. ABOUT school years There is practically no information about Zakharova; it is only known that Maria was a diligent student who dreamed of becoming a diplomat from childhood. According to Zakharova, her favorite program in early years there was the International Panorama, which fascinated her.
Difficulties with choice future profession the girl did not experience it - she, without hesitation, entered the Moscow state institute international relations at the Faculty of Journalism, which she successfully graduated in 1998, receiving a diploma in international journalism. Zakharova completed her pre-graduation internship at the Russian Embassy in Beijing, and after receiving her diploma she remained to work at the Russian Foreign Ministry. In 2003, Maria became a candidate of historical sciences, defending her dissertation at Peoples' Friendship University.
Policy
From the first days, Maria Zakharova’s career has been continuously connected with Russian Ministry foreign affairs First, the girl got a job as an editor at the departmental magazine “Diplomatic Messenger”, and then was hired by the Department of Information and Press of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she served as head of the operational media monitoring department.

The next step in diplomatic biography Zakharova received a new leadership position in the diplomatic department - Maria headed the press service of the Permanent Mission of Russia to the UN in New York. Maria worked in this position until 2008, after which she returned to Moscow to her previous place of work.
For the next three years, the future speaker of the Russian Foreign Ministry showed professional qualities in the central office of the department, so in 2011 she was appointed to the post of deputy head of the Department of Information and Press of the Russian Foreign Ministry. In her position, Zakharova became widely known in society, as her responsibilities included frequent communication with the press. Her activities also included organizing regular briefings by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, accompanying the head of the department during foreign visits, as well as popularizing the foreign policy department in social networks.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation owes Maria Zakharova access to social networks in informal form. Her professionalism and ability to work with the public allowed her to popularize the Department among society, thanks to which her compatriots began to receive political information“living” language with particular sharpness and emotionality. At the same time, Maria Vladimirovna regularly participates in political programs and talk shows, which allowed her to become one of the most quoted Russian diplomats.
During her 15-year work at the Russian Foreign Ministry, Zakharova was awarded the diplomatic rank of advisor of the highest class, and also became a member of the Council for foreign policy and defense of the Russian Federation.

On August 10, 2015, Maria Zakharova was appointed to the post of official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry. In this position, Maria replaced Alexander Lukashevich in connection with his appointment to the post of Russia's permanent representative to the OSCE. Having become the first media person of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Vladimirovna noted that there would be no significant changes in her work. Zakharova intends to continue covering diplomatic activities on social networks and in same form inform the public about the work of the department.
Zakharova emphasized that over the past four years of direct work under the leadership of Lukashevich, Maria adopted his experience, therefore, after being appointed to a new position, she does not see any difficulties or obstacles for herself professional activities. As head of the Department of Information and Press of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Vladimirovna promised to do the job efficiently and preserve the work of her predecessors without changing the genre and format of political explanations on social networks.

At the Russian Foreign Ministry, opinions regarding the appointment of Maria Vladimirovna to the post of official representative were divided. Some believe that foreign policy is far from being an area where it is possible to experiment in Zakharova’s characteristic style, while others, on the contrary, call Zakharova’s appointment a beneficial option for the department, since she is a professional in her field.
Personal life
The personal life of Maria Zakharova has long been connected with one single person - her husband. Zakharova's husband - Russian entrepreneur. The wedding took place in early November 2005 in New York, where Maria was at work at that time. The ceremony was held privately, the young people simply got married, without arranging a luxurious celebration.

Five years later, the couple had a daughter, Maryana. Despite the fact that it is not customary for Foreign Ministry employees to bring children to work, Maria appeared at the department several times with her daughter. As Zakharova herself reported, this was due to the impossibility of leaving the little girl alone at home.
Since childhood, Maria Zakharova has been interested in arranging doll houses. This hobby began with a gift from their parents - a miniature hat that the Zakharovs brought to their daughter from China. Maria's passion for doll accessories and interior items remained with her throughout her life. On trips abroad, Maria acquires unique things: small armchairs, sofas, bathtubs for dolls. She fills the miniature house with them.

Physical fitness Maria Zakharova supports regular sports training, reports of which in the form of photos the diplomat posts on the page in “ Instagram ».
Maria Zakharova now
For productive work for the benefit of the motherland, Maria Zakharova received a promotion in 2017, replacing diplomatic rank. Today Maria is Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary 1st Class. In the same year, a significant event took place for the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Maria received the Order of Friendship from the hands of the President.

Weekly for meetings with funds mass media Briefings are held in the Foreign Ministry building, where Maria Zakharova comments on the latest news. Maria Zakharova continues to dialogue with foreign countries, expressing the opinion of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and their personal views. The diplomat believes that now more than ever international community susceptible to Russophobic sentiments that need to be resisted.
In 2018, after an English spy and Russia was accused of this crime, Maria Zakharova listed a number of examples of inhumane conduct international politics from the UK side. A representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry accused the British of the genocide of Tasmanians and Boers in the 19th century, of the destruction of Kenyans and even of murder. After the expulsion of diplomats from the United States, Maria responded on behalf of the Russian Foreign Ministry that the measures taken would be adequate.

Maria Zakharova regularly comments on current events in world politics, as well as in the Russian media space. Diplomat in once again retorted, who again spoke unfriendly about the Russians. Commenting on the closure of the Telegram network by Roskomnadzor, Maria replied that she did not agree with such measures. In her opinion, it was enough to oblige all subscribers of the channel to register interpersonal communication, and not block the network.
Maria Zakharova also spoke about. The Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said that a people who managed to maintain unity despite disagreements can be called great.
Awards
2013 – Certificate of Honor President of the Russian Federation
2016 – Award of the Moscow Union of Journalists “For openness to the press”
2017 – “Certificate of Confidence from the Journalist Community of Russia” from the Union of Journalists of Russia - “for openness in working with the media”
2017 – Medal “Marshal Vasily Chuikov” from the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia
2017 – Order of Friendship

Maria Vladimirovna Zakharova is a diplomat, director of the information and press department at the Russian Foreign Ministry. Official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Has a PhD in history. In the foreign press she is called “sexy, smart and a terrible miracle weapon of Putin’s propaganda”; in Russia they admire her straightforwardness, an amazing combination of femininity and toughness, often calling Zakharova “the Russian analogue of Jen Psaki.”

Official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova

Childhood and family

Maria spent her childhood in Beijing, where her diplomat parents arrived in the early 80s. Father, Vladimir Yurievich, orientalist, specialist in Chinese language and literature, worked as an adviser to the secretariat until 2014 Shanghai organization cooperation, after which he was a senior lecturer at the Faculty of World Economy and World Politics at the Higher School of Economics, and also lectured at the School of Oriental Studies. His wife Irina, upon returning from China, became a researcher at the capital's Museum fine arts them. A.S. Pushkin. She is a candidate of art history and knows the culture, history, and traditions of China very well. Together with her husband, she published a book for children, “We wish you happiness from year to year,” a collection of Chinese folk tales.

Maria Zakharova's parents are orientalists

I dreamed of doing the same hectic and serious work as my father, and writing as well as my mother. Perhaps that is why little Masha’s favorite program was the weekly program “International Panorama”, in which the main economic and political events abroad were discussed.

Maria Zakharova dances "Kalinka"

After graduating from school, Maria and her parents returned to Moscow, where she entered the Faculty of International Journalism at MGIMO (specialization in Oriental Studies and Journalism). In 1998, during her final year, Zakharova completed a postgraduate internship at the Russian Embassy in her almost native China. Five years later, in 2003, in Russian University Friendship of Peoples, Maria successfully defended her Ph.D. dissertation on a topic so familiar and close to her about the celebration of the New Year in China, after which she received a Candidate of Historical Sciences degree.

Maria Zakharova in her youth

Diplomat career

Maria Zakharova’s first place of work was the editorial office of the Russian Foreign Ministry magazine “Diplomatic Messenger”. In the editorial office, Maria met Alexander Vladimirovich Yakovenko, her first supervisor and future Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. Alexander Vladimirovich adhered to the same principles in his work as Maria’s beloved grandmother. He believed that quality and professional interaction between team members were important in work. Masha’s grandmother also taught the girl the idea that any work should be done perfectly, even if no one checks it. As an example, she cited embroidery, which even with reverse side should look neat. So the girl easily joined the team.

In 1998, Maria Zakharova began her career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Having shown herself excellently in the editorial office, Maria, by decision of the management, soon moved to the Department of Information and Press under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia. Having gotten used to new job, in 2003, Zakharova headed the operational media monitoring department. Two years later, Maria went to New York as press secretary of the Permanent Mission of Russia to the United Nations.

In 2008, Maria returned to her home department, in Moscow, but three years later she was appointed deputy head of the Department of Press and Information and just two years later she headed it, replacing her former boss Alexander Lukashevich. The reason for the appointment was not only Maria’s professionalism, experience and knowledge, but also her popularity in the media sphere. The woman was a frequent guest on numerous talk shows and never missed an opportunity to express her position on social networks.

Maria Zakharova is loved for her aggressive, straightforward rhetoric

She was responsible for organizing the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, maintained the official accounts of the Ministry on social networks, and provided information support to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during trips abroad. Soon followed the appointment of Zakharova to the post of official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry. Since then, the diplomat has often appeared on television to explain the official position of the Ministry, but she has done it so informally and naturally that it has repeatedly caused heated debates and discussions.

Maria Zakharova in a swimsuit

For her high professionalism, Maria Zakharova was awarded the rank of top-class diplomatic adviser and admission to the Council on Foreign Policy and Defense of Russia.

Maria Zakharova about relations with the United States (program by Vladimir Solovyov)

Personal life of Maria Zakharova

Maria does not say anything about her personal life. It is only known that she is married, her husband’s name is Andrey. Together with her husband she is raising a daughter, Maryana (born 2010). In rare moments of rest, he likes to write poetry, which he sometimes shares with subscribers on social networks.

Maria Zakharova is married and has a daughter

In November 2016, on her eleventh wedding anniversary, Zakharova shared photos from the ceremony. The celebration took place in New York. “I worked there. The husband is domestic. Came, got married, left,” Maria reassured her subscribers.

Wedding photo of Maria Zakharova (2005)

Maria Zakharova now

Thanks to her active, witty, sometimes even harsh defense of the Foreign Ministry’s positions, Maria was included in the top ten media rating of Russian women for 2015-2016 in terms of frequency of mention in domestic means mass media.

Maria Zakharova is one of the most influential Russian women

The biography of the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of the Russian Federation Zakharova Maria Vladimirovna is interesting even to people far from politics. They want to know literally everything about her: who her husbands are, her children, her nationality. Photo Russian analogue James Psaki, as Zakharova is often called, can be easily found on the Internet.

She is Russian weapons president, because she is the one who reveals most of machinations against their country. She is not only a diplomat and director in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Press, but is also a wonderful wife and mother. She manages to do everything and everywhere, although she admits that sometimes it is very difficult.

This is a woman who combines femininity and moderate severity; it is always pleasant to watch her. Educated and humane Zakharova Maria Vladimirovna, diplomat of the Russian Foreign Ministry, and her biography deserves special attention, as does her career ladder along which she moved very quickly.

On duty of father:

diplomat;

orientalist;

specialist in Chinese language and literature;

later (in 2014) senior lecturer in world economics and politics.

The Zakharov family moved to the Chinese city of Beijing, where our heroine spent her childhood. And Maria was born in Moscow on December 24, 1975, under the zodiac sign Capricorn. Soon after her birth, her departure followed. They lived in China for 13 years.

Young Maria loved walking with her parents through Beijing park streets and monasteries. Then she happily shared her impressions with her grandmother, who remained in Russia.

The girl was a diligent student, Chinese was quite easy for her. As a child, she, like all girls her age, loved to play with dolls and even glued houses for them. Over time, this hobby grew into a serious hobby. As Masha grew older, she began to create miniature interiors.

The girl dreamed of following in her father's footsteps; she liked to be the center of attention. The field of activity of Maria Vladislavovna, Maria’s mother, a former museum employee of fine arts, attracted her no less. While most children could not be torn away from the “Visiting a Fairy Tale” program, Maria was interested in the completely non-children’s television program “International Panorama”. She absorbed information about economic and political events abroad like a sponge.

The Zakharovs returned to their homeland when their daughter graduated from school. In Moscow, she entered MGIMO, choosing the specialization “Journalism and Oriental Studies.” In 1988, the girl, being in her final year, was sent to China, which became painfully dear to her. She completed her pre-graduation internship at the Russian Embassy.

After 5 years, Maria successfully defended her dissertation at the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia on the topic “celebrating the New Year in China.” For which she received an academic degree, becoming a candidate of historical sciences.

Career growth

The editorial office of the Diplomatic Bulletin magazine is the first place of work for Maria Vladimirovna Zakharova. Thanks to professional qualities and ability to get along with people, she quickly joined the team.

Soon, by decision of the management, the girl was transferred to the Department of Information and Press under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of the Russian Federation. And already in 2003, Zakharova worked as the head of operational monitoring of the media.

She held this position for 2 years, after which she went to New York, where she was press secretary of the permanent government of the Russian Federation at the United Nations.

From Zakharova’s biography, it follows that her return to Moscow to her previous department occurred in 2008. And in 2011 she was appointed to the position of deputy head of the department and press.

She occupied this chair for 2 years, after which she became the head of the structural unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, taking over the post of Alexander Lukashevich, the former chief. The employment of a Russian woman did not prevent her from arranging her personal life.

Her happiness is in her husband and children, or rather in her daughter. Zakharova shares some photos on social networks.

Organizing and conducting briefings by the official representative of the Ministry.

Maintaining official accounts on social networks.

Providing information support to Sergei Lavrov (Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation) during his trips abroad.

All this was the responsibility of Maria Zakharova.
Maria Zakharova before losing weight: l personal life

As for her personal life, Maria Vladimirovna prefers not to talk about it. It is only known that she is married to businessman Andrei Mikhailovich, who supports her in everything. On November 7, 2005, they got married in New York. At that moment, Zakharova was in the United States for work. In 2010, the couple became happy parents.

Their daughter Maryana was born. In her free time from work, Maria Zakharova writes poetry, some of which she posts on her pages on social networks.

In addition, she is the author of the lyrics of the song “Bring Back Memory,” which the woman dedicated to the Russian military personnel killed in Syria. She's like anyone family woman, loves to spend weekends (which happen so rarely) with his family.

It happened that she had to take her daughter with her to work, since there was simply no one to leave the baby with. The civil servant admitted: she does not have stylists, she chooses her own clothes for everyday life and diplomatic meetings, and does it exclusively with her own money.

Maria's hobbies

A very strict and aristocratic woman, a diplomat, at home she is very soft and feminine. And she chose very symbolic hobbies for herself. Masha doesn’t often like to share even two words of her life, which happens far from everyone. But she says that she loves to write poetry. She doesn’t often have such an opportunity, because she has very little time to spend at home. But sometimes she writes poetry and shares them on social networks with her subscribers. And her poems reveal a very subtle nature in her, light and soft. Exactly what a real woman should be.

Another hobby of hers is songwriting. And the woman caused a great stir when her song was performed by singer Nargiz at the International Moscow Festival. The song was dedicated to the military soldiers who fought and died in Syria. And at the closing of the festival, another song by Zakharova was performed, which was already performed by Alexander Kogan. And how this woman also manages to write songs, poems, take care of her family and take care of her country remains a big mystery. But all politicians and diplomats in Russia and abroad bow to her. And such a woman is truly worthy of such respect.

Present time for Mary

Now the woman continues her diplomatic activities. She is still active. She still participates in various programs, where discussions with her personality are very popular and active. She never hesitates to express opinions, not only on her own behalf, but also on behalf of the Ministry. And the woman does it in a very relaxed and accessible way.

Maria Zakharova Vladimirovna, a diplomat at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who does not talk about her husband or child, rarely posts photos, and even keeps silent about the nationality of her family, has such a rich biography of activities for the benefit of her country. A woman is a wall for the President of Russia, and it is not surprising that she is so valued, and one can hope that she will serve for the good of her country for a long time to come.

Family

Maria Zakharova is married and has minor daughter Maryana.

Zakharova's parents are Soviet diplomats. Father - Vladimir Yurievich Zakharov- orientalist. Currently working with the National research university "graduate School economy".

Biography

In 1998, she graduated from the Faculty of International Journalism at MGIMO with a degree in Oriental Studies and Journalism. The internship took place at the Russian Embassy in Beijing.

In 2003, Zakharova defended her PhD thesis at the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia on the topic "Transformation of understanding the symbolism of celebrating the traditional New Year in modern China. The last quarter of the 20th century."

Since 1998 - employee of the editorial office of the magazine "Diplomatic Bulletin" of the Russian Foreign Ministry, then in the Department of Information and Press of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

From 2003 to 2005 - head of department in the Department of Information and Press of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

From 2005 to 2008, she worked as press secretary of the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the UN in New York.

From 2008 to 2011 - head of department in the Department of Information and Press of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Maria Zakharova is one of the most quoted Russian diplomats. She is often compared to Jen Psaki(official representative of the US State Department until March 31, 2015).

On August 10, 2015, by order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Russian Federation Zakharova was appointed director of the Department of Information and Press. Zakharova became the first woman in the history of the department to hold this position.

Speaks English and Chinese languages. Has a diplomatic rank - Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, 2nd class.

Scandals, rumors

Maria Zakharova was criticized by Radio Liberty for her own journalistic style, which was called aggressive and compared to the publications of Soviet newspapers on international events.

On December 30, 2015, Zakharova almost disrupted the broadcast of the “Minority Opinion” program on the “Echo of Moscow” radio station. The guest of the program was a Polish journalist Vaclav Radzivinovich, which, according to the format, must give its own assessment of the main news of the day. During the discussion of the issue of depriving Radzivinovich of Russian accreditation, Maria Zakharova herself appeared in the studio, not announced as a participant in the program, but invited to the broadcast by the editor-in-chief.

In March 2016, a columnist for the Vedomosti newspaper Mikhail Overchenko drew attention to the diplomatic incident involving Maria Zakharova, who considered what was said by the representative of the State Department Mark Tonner the phrase put up or shut up (meaning to take action to do what is being said, or to stop talking about it) is a gross insult to the Russian Federation, calling on him to order his colleagues to shut up.

According to Western media, Zakharova is a “sexy and smart blonde” whose appearance is a “subtle diplomatic provocation.” This opinion was expressed by the German publication Stern in an article dedicated to Zakharova.

The publication called the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry a “sexual beast.”

According to Stern, Maria Zakharova demonstrated that it is possible to simultaneously combine femininity and beauty with success and even toughness.

The attention of German journalists was drawn to a recent incident involving correspondents from the Moscow editorial office of Reuters. Maria Zakharova in literally put journalists of the British agency to ridicule in connection with a Reuters report that Russia would allegedly begin preparing the reform process in Syria.

It should be noted that Zakharova is also an active blogger, and regularly posts his photographs on the Internet, which are not always of a “diplomatic nature.”

However, the passion for fashionable hats, expensive resorts and daily “looks” on Instagram have not yet had any impact on the professional activities of the Russian diplomat.