MOSCOW, July 27. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed Vasily Nebenzya to the position of the Russian Permanent Representative to the UN. The relevant decree was posted on the Kremlin’s website on Thursday.

"To appoint Nebenzya Vasily Alexeyevich Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, the USA, and Russia’s representative at the UN Security Council," the document reads.

Another presidential decree has relieved Nebenzya of his duties as Russian Deputy Foreign Minister.

On May 25, the State Duma (lower house of parliament) International Affairs Committee supported Nebenzya’s nomination to the position of Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN. The Federation Council (upper house) International Affairs Committee discussed the issue on May 29.

The position of Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN was vacant after the death of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Vitaly Churkin in New York in February.

Vasily Nebenzya born in 1962 speaks English and Spanish. He served as the Head of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Department for Humanitarian Cooperation and Human Rights and was senior adviser to the Russian Permanent Mission to the UN in 1996-2000. In 2006-2012, he served as Russia’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva.