MOSCOW, February 20. /TASS/. Muscovites are bringing flowers and light candle at the main entrance to the Russian foreign ministry in central Moscow in mourning over the sudden death of Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin.

The flowers are laying on a white sheet of paper with the sign "Vitaly Churkin has passed away" written in black letters.

Russia’s Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin died in New York on Monday, a day before his 65th birthday. The Russian foreign ministry said he had died while performing his duties.

"We offer sincere condolences to the family of Vitaly Ivanovich Churkin," the ministry said.

Churkin was born in Moscow on February 21, 1952 into the family of an aviation design engineer. He has been Russia’s Ambassador to the United Nations since April 8, 2006.