Luis Ayllón / Alberto Rubio
Russia’s ambassador to Spain, Yuri Korchagin, will soon leave his post, which he has held for ten years, once the Spanish government grants the go-ahead for his successor, which has already been requested by Moscow, according to The Diplomat, according to reliable sources.
Korchagin’s departure comes at a time when Russia’s relations with Spain, as with the rest of Europe and many other countries around the world, are at their worst, as a result of the invasion of Ukraine.
In fact, the Russian embassy in Madrid has been significantly reduced since the Spanish government expelled 27 diplomats and employees from the diplomatic representation on 5 April, stating that they were ‘a threat to Spain’s security’.
The measure, similar to that adopted by other neighbouring countries, was a sign of rejection of the actions of Russian troops in Ukraine, which was replicated by Russia on 17 May with the expulsion of 27 Spanish diplomats and workers accredited in Moscow.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukrainian territory, Yuri Korchagin, following the instructions of Vladimir Putin’s government, has been very active in justifying the attack, both with statements in the media and with a profusion of messages through special networks, especially through the Russia in Spain account on Twitter.
In statements to El Independiente on 29 May, Korchagin claimed that “the Spanish government has ruined 500 years of relations between Russia and Spain”, while defending the Kremlin’s position in what he called a “special military operation in Ukraine”.
However, Korchagin reduced his presence in public forums that he used to attend and where he coincided with other ambassadors.
Yuri Korchagin, born 71 years ago in Voronezh, entered the diplomatic career in 1977, after studying International Relations and History, and presented his Letters of Credence before King Juan Carlos on 13 June 2012, making him the oldest resident foreign ambassador in Spain.
A lover of Spanish culture and a great connoisseur of the Latin American world, Korchagin arrived in our country after having been, between 2009 and 2012, in charge of the Directorate of the Latin American Department in the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and after having been ambassador of his country in Colombia and Argentina and having also been posted in Mexico and Peru.
For months now, there have been rumours of Korchagin’s possible departure from the post of ambassador in Madrid, which, given the diplomat’s age, is expected to be his last posting.
The Russian government is awaiting a positive response to the request for a new ambassador, whose identity has not yet been revealed.
