Bogdanov resigns as Putin’s special envoy to Middle East, Africa

74-year-old diplomat left at his own request, citing personal reasons, news agency quotes sources as saying

By Reuters

Published July 10, 2025

Russias Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov attends a meeting of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (not pictured) with his counterparts of the GCC member states and the GCC secretary general in Moscow on July 10, 2023. — Reuters — Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov attends a meeting of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (not pictured) with his counterparts of the GCC member states and the GCC secretary general in Moscow on July 10, 2023. — Reuters

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, who served for years as President Vladimir Putin’s special representative to the Middle East and Africa, has officially left his post at the Russian foreign ministry, a news agency of the country has said.

The 74-year-old diplomat stepped down at his own request, citing personal reasons, the news agency quoted a source as saying.

The copy of Russian President Putins order, accepting the resignation of Mikhail Bogdanov. — The copy of Russian President Putin's order, accepting the resignation of Mikhail Bogdanov.

The exit of the Kremlin leader's special representative was confirmed in a presidential decree signed by the president on Wednesday.

Bogdanov graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations in 1974 during the Soviet era and immediately embarked on a diplomatic career as a regional specialist that took him to numerous capitals.

He served as Russian ambassador to Israel from 1997 to 2002 and ambassador to Egypt from 2005 to 2011.

Under Putin, he served as special presidential representative to the Middle East from 2012, and as special representative to Africa from 2014.

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