Russian UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin suddenly dies in New York City

Vitaly Churkin died in New York City on 20 February 2017. The Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement that read he "died suddenly." It further noted: "A prominent Russian diplomat has passed away while at work. We'd like to express our sincere condolences to Vitaly Churkin's family."

Russian president Vladimir Putin was said to have been personally upset by his death. The combative, career diplomat recently referred to trumps UN ambassador Samantha Power, as "mother Theresa", referring to United State's missteps in the Middle East, and defending Russian policy in Syria which has been much criticized of late.

The diplomat seemed to revel in the crowds of reporters who would follow him on foreign trips.

Vitaly Ivanovich Churkin was a Russian diplomat and former child actor. Ambassador Churkin served as Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 2006 until his death in 2017. He was fluent in Russian, Mongolian, French and English. Had his time of death he was 64.

He is believed to have died of a heart attack at a New York area hospital and his death is not being investigated as suspicious.

From the New York Post: Vitaly Churkin, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations, has died at New York Presbyterian Hospital after suffering heart problems. He was 64 years old.

Churkin was at the Russian embassy on East 67th Street when he became sick with a "cardiac condition" around 9:30 A.M., sources told the New York Post. Russian foreign ministry gave no details on the circumstances of his death but offered condolences to his family. Churkin died one day before his 65th birthday.