Official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova made a special statement dedicated to 250th anniversary of the birth of John Kapodistrias.
In her publication she described him as “Russian politician and diplomat”emphasizing its role in the history of the Russian Empire and the formation of the modern Greek state.
The English version of the statement reads:
“On February 11, we celebrated the 250th anniversary of the birth of the Russian politician and diplomat Ivan Kapodistrias. The peak of his national and patriotic service was his election in April 1827 to the post of president (governor) of the emerging Greek state.”
The Russian-language text also emphasizes his belonging to Russian diplomatic tradition and his contributions to public administration.
John Kapodistrias held high positions in the foreign policy system of the Russian Empire and was one of the key European diplomats of the early 19th century.
In April 1827, he was elected the first ruler of independent Greece, becoming first governor of the Greek state in the period after the Liberation War.
Zakharova’s statement paid special attention to the fact that his activities in Russia and Greece were considered as a single line of serving state interests.
According to experts, such wording reflects Moscow’s desire to emphasize historical role of Russia in the formation of Greek statehood.
At the same time, this is seen as a diplomatic signal to Athens against the backdrop of modern international relations.
The publication emphasizes that Kapodistrias’ contribution to the development of Greece was closely related to his experience in Russian diplomacy.
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