The ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Russia to Colombia is the official representative of the president and the government of the Russian Federation to the president and the government of Colombia.
The ambassador and his staff work at large in the Embassy of Russia in Bogotá. The post of Russian ambassador to Colombia is currently held by , incumbent since 5 October 2020.
History of diplomatic relations
Diplomatic relations between the forerunner states of the modern countries of Russia and Colombia date back to the mid-nineteenth century. Relations were first formalized through an exchange of diplomatic messages between Emperor Alexander II, and the president of the Republic of New Granada, Mariano Ospina Rodríguez, in 1858. Relations were restored between what was by then the Soviet Union and the Republic of Colombia on 25 June 1935. It was however not until February 1943, that a diplomatic mission was opened, and 21 October 1943, that the first envoy, , was appointed. Relations were interrupted following the Bogotazo, an outbreak of political violence, in April 1948. The Colombian government broke off relations with the Soviet Union as a result. They were only restored on 19 January 1968, with appointed ambassador on 11 March 1968. Ambassadors were then exchanged for the remainder of the existence of the Soviet Union.
Diplomatic relations were established between the Soviet Union and Suriname on 25 November 1975. Relations were initially handled through the Soviet embassy in Colombia, with the incumbent ambassador to Colombia, , given dual accreditation as the non-resident ambassador to Suriname from 29 November 1976. This practice continued with Andreyev's successor, , and lasted until the opening of the embassy in Paramaribo on 27 October 1981, and the appointment of as the first ambassador accredited solely to Suriname from 22 July 1982.
Representation continued through the late twentieth century. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Colombia recognized the Russian Federation as its successor state on 27 December 1991. The incumbent Soviet ambassador, , continued as the Russian ambassador until 1992.
List of representatives (1943–present) Soviet Union to Colombia (1943-1991) NameTitleAppointmentTerminationNotesEnvoy21 October 19433 May 1948Credentials presented on 16 February 1944Bogotazo and subsequent political unrest - Diplomatic relations interrupted (1948-1968)Ambassador11 March 196829 July 1971Credentials presented on 25 May 1968 Ambassador29 July 197123 August 1978Credentials presented on 24 September 1971Ambassador23 August 197823 June 1987Credentials presented on 23 October 1978Ambassador23 June 198727 January 1989Ambassador27 January 198925 December 1991
Russian Federation to Colombia (1991-present) NameTitleAppointmentTerminationNotesAmbassador25 December 199131 December 1992Ambassador31 December 19923 March 1994 Ednan AgaevAmbassador23 August 199423 July 1999Ambassador23 July 199926 February 2003Ambassador26 February 200324 June 2004Ambassador24 June 200421 February 2011Ambassador21 February 201117 August 2016Ambassador17 August 20165 October 2020Ambassador5 October 2020Credentials presented on 29 January 2021
References