Russian Ambassador to Ireland Timoshkin unexpectedly dies

Russian Ambassador to Ireland Timoshkin unexpectedly dies

2011-05-23 21:11:05 GMT+7 (ICT)

DUBLIN (BNO NEWS) -- The Russian Federation's Ambassador to Ireland, Mikhail E. Timoshkin, has unexpectedly died, the Irish government confirmed on Monday.

Timoshkin served as Russia's Ambassador to Ireland since 2006. "I was saddened to learn of the untimely death of the Russian Federation's Ambassador to Ireland, H.E. Mikhail E. Timoshkin," Irish Deputy Prime Minister Eamon Gilmore said.

Gilmore praised Timoshkin for working to strengthen ties between the two countries and peoples since he took office. "In particular I would like to pay tribute to the key role he played in the President's visit to Russia in September last year," he said. "This was the first visit by a President of Ireland to the Russian Federation and marked a significant step forward in our bilateral relationship."

Gilmore, on behalf of the Irish government, offered his condolences to the widdow of Timoshkin, Olga, and his family, colleagues and friends. It was not immediately clear when Timoshkin died and what was the cause of his death.

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