Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to attend the United Nations 70th General Assembly in New York in September, according to an order outlining the members of the Russian delegation. The document was signed by Putin and published on the government's legal information portal on Friday.
The visit to New York will be Putin's first in 10 years. He will be joined by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the General Assembly, who will take over as head of the Russian delegation after Putin returns to Moscow.
The Russian delegation will include Alexei Pushkov, head of the State Duma's Foreign Affairs Committee, and Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin.
Putin last attended the UN General Assembly in 2005. Before that, he attended in 2003 and 2000, Interfax news agency reported Friday. In 2009, then-President Dmitry Medvedev spoke before the General Assembly. Lavrov has led the Russian delegation every other time.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
