Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a decree relieving Anatoly Antonov of his duties as Russian Ambassador to the United States.
The document states: “Release Anatoly Antonov from his duties as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the United States.”
The corresponding decree was published on the official legal information portal .
Antonov was also relieved of his post as permanent observer of the Russian Federation to the Organization of American States in Washington.
On October 5, the US Embassy announced that Ambassador Antonov's mission to the US had ended.
After completing his mission in Washington, he returns to Moscow.
The press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov explained that the candidacy of the new ambassador will not depend on the presidential elections in the United States.
According to him, Moscow will decide on a new candidate in a timely manner.
The Kremlin emphasized that the end of Antonov’s mission will not affect the level of diplomatic relations between Moscow and Washington.
