Mikhail Bogdanov, a seasoned Russian diplomat and long-time aide to President Vladimir Putin, has resigned from his position as deputy foreign minister, according to the country’s news agency.
The 74-year-old, who also served as Putin’s special envoy to the Middle East and Africa, vacated the post at his own request, reportedly for personal reasons, the news agency quoted a source as saying.
President Putin’s order, confirming the acceptance of Bogdanov’s resignation, was issued 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, which led him to numerous capitals. He served as the Russian ambassador to Israel from 1997 to 2002 and as ambassador to Egypt from 2005 to 2011. Under President Putin, he held roles as the special presidential representative to the Middle East from 2012 and as special representative to Africa from 2014.
