MOSCOW, November 24. /TASS/. The Russian Foreign Ministry said it would not publicly comment on the nomination of the country’s new ambassador to the US due to legal restrictions.

The statement followed a report in the Kommersant newspaper that said, citing three sources, that Foreign Ministry's North America Department Director Alexander Darchiyev had been tapped for the post.

"Moscow decided on the candidate long ago. It's been an open secret for a couple of months now. Everyone knew about it. Due to legislative restrictions, we do not comment publicly on the process," a Foreign Ministry representative told TASS.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin relieved Anatoly Antonov of his duties as Russian ambassador to the US. On October 5, TASS was told that Antonov was completing his mission in Washington. The next day the diplomat returned to Moscow.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on November 20 that Russia had picked a candidate to replace Antonov, and the appointment could take place in the near future.