Russia changes ambassador to Greece for the first time in more than 12 years old: appointed as the new head of the diplomatic mission in Athens Yuri Gorlachwho will replace Andrei Maslov.
The corresponding decree was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Simultaneously Andrey Maslovwho held the post of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Greece since July 2014, has been relieved of it.
Who is Yuri Gorlach
Yuri Andreevich Gorlach born in 1960. In 1983 he graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) and has been working in the diplomatic service since the same year.
A significant part of his career is connected specifically with the European direction.
IN 2005–2014 Gorlach served as deputy director of the Department of Pan-European Cooperation of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The diplomat was then sent to Brussels. From July 2014 to January 2018, he worked as Russia’s deputy permanent representative to NATO, and after Alexander Grushko moved to the post of deputy foreign minister, he actually headed the Russian mission.
WITH January 2018 to September 2021 Gorlach served as Russia’s permanent representative to NATO.
This was a particularly difficult period in relations between Moscow and the North Atlantic Alliance: the Russian mission was gradually reduced, and in the fall of 2021 Russia suspended its permanent mission to NATO.
From NATO to crisis diplomacy
After returning from Brussels, Gorlach received a different direction of work. WITH October 1, 2021 He headed the Department of the Situation and Crisis Center of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
This unit is responsible for responding to emergency situations abroad, the security of Russian citizens and diplomatic institutions, and organizing evacuations from crisis zones.
In particular, Gorlach publicly presented the results of the operation to evacuate Russian citizens from the Gaza Strip in 2023.
Diplomat owns English and Spanish.
Maslov worked in Athens for more than 12 years
The change of ambassador is especially notable for the duration of the previous diplomatic mission.
Andrey Maslov was appointed Russian Ambassador to Greece on July 12, 2014. Thus, he represented Moscow in Athens for more than 12 years.
During this period, Russian-Greek relations went through several completely different stages – from intense political and economic contacts in the mid-2010s to a serious cooling after the outbreak of a full-scale war in Ukraine and Greece’s accession to the sanctions policy of the European Union.
Why the biography of the new ambassador is interesting for Greece
Appointment of a diplomat with extensive experience working specifically in European and NATO directions attracts attention against the background of the current state of relations between Moscow and Athens.
Greece is both a member of the EU and NATO, expanding defense cooperation with the United States and supporting Ukraine. Russia, for its part, has repeatedly criticized Athens’ decisions related to military assistance to Kyiv.
At the same time, diplomatic relations, historical and cultural ties are maintained between the two countries, and a significant number of Russian-speaking citizens and immigrants from the countries of the former USSR permanently reside in Greece.
What’s important: The appointment of Yuri Gorlach itself does not mean a change in Russian policy towards Greece. However, after more than 12 years of mission of Andrei Maslov, the change of head of the embassy is becoming a noticeable personnel event in bilateral relations.
Now Yuri Gorlach will head the Russian diplomatic mission in Athens at a time when relations between Russia and Greece remain much more complex than when his predecessor was appointed in 2014.
More Stories
Russian gas again in Europe? The US and Russia are discussing a deal around Nord Stream
Greece will purchase American weapons worth $4 billion: what was included in the agreement with the United States
There were protests against Rubio’s visit in Athens: the column headed to the US Embassy