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Russian State Duma endorses Babich as ambassador to Ukraine — source

Moscow has requested Kiev’s preliminary agreement to appoint Mikhail Babich as new Ambassador to Kiev

MOSCOW, July 29. /TASS/. At a session behind closed doors on Friday, Russian State Duma committee for international affairs backed the candidacy of Mikhail Babich, presidential envoy to the Volga Federal District, as Russia’s new Ambassador to Ukraine, a source from the committee told Tass.

"The committee backed the candidacy of Babich," he said.

Earlier, committee’s chairman Alexei Pushkov confirmed that it had considered the issue. Babich, for his part, declined to answer reporters’ questions, saying only "You will soon learn everything".

On Thursday, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to relieve Mikhail Zurabov of his duties as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Ukraine.

The State Duma received on Friday a letter on appointing Babich as Ambassador to Ukraine.

Moscow has requested Kiev’s preliminary agreement to appoint Mikhail Babich as new Ambassador to Kiev, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists earlier on Friday.