It is knows that the diplomat's death was unexpected to his colleagues - the immediate cause was heart failure, according to preliminary data. On 21 February 2017, the Russia's representative to the UNO would have turned 65 years.

Foreign policy was the main direction of Churkin's activity. The Russian dedicated to it more than half of his life.

For the first time the young Churkin was sent on a business trip to the United States in 1979. The next seven years, the diplomat is living in America.

After the tragedy in Chernobyl, Vitaly Churkin was the one who appeared on television screens worldwide and announced the explosion. At that time, he served as the second secretary of the embassy in the United States.

The Western media treated Churkin respectfully. The Russian could respond with dignity to sharp questions from the US Congress.

Many people note Vitaly Churkin's contribution to ending the armed conflict in Yugoslavia.

Vitaly Churkin pursued negotiations pretty tough but diplomatically when it came to defending the position of the Russian Federation.

The diplomat work is a hard work. Churkin was almost constantly on the road, holding talks most of the time.

Journalists should be grateful to this diplomat - he was the first among Russian politicians who began holding open briefings for the media.

Vitaly Churkin got the position of the Russia's Permanent Representative to the UNO in 2006.

In the photo: Vitaly Churkin at the workplace.