Vitaly Churkin, the UN Ambassador for Russia, Dead in New York at 64

Vitaly Churkin, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations (UN), died Monday in New York at the age of 64 after suffering from heart problems. His death, which was only one day before his 65th birthday, was announced inside the UN Trusteeship Council Chamber and the Russian government confirmed.

“A prominent Russian diplomat has passed away while at work. We’d like to express our sincere condolences to Vitaly Churkin’s family,” Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on its official website.

UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq seemed to be taken by surprise by the news, as was the entire UNSC community, despite his condition.

“Our thoughts go to his family, to his friends and to his government,” he said, adding he heard the news from reporters as it circulated during a daily briefing. Matthew Rycroft, the British ambassador to the UN, tweeted he was “absolutely devastated” to hear of the death of Churkin, “a diplomatic giant and wonderful character.”

Churkin, who served as Russia’s permanent representative to the UN since 2006, was at the Russian embassy on East 67th Street on Monday when he experienced a “cardiac condition.” He was rushed to New York Presbyterian Hospital at around 9:30 a.m EST.