UNITED NATIONS, February 21. /TASS/. A Book of Condolence on the passing of Ambassador Vitaly Churkin was opened at the Russian Permanent Mission to the United Nations on Tuesday. The ambassadors of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) member-countries and UN Secretary General, Anttonio Guterres, were the first to leave messages in it.

The UN chief administrative officer also offered his condolences to Vitaly Churkin’s widow, Irina.

People are bringing flowers to the Permanent Mission’s building in New York City to express sympathy to Russians over the loss of an outstanding diplomat who served as Russia’s Ambassador to the UN since 2006.

Vitaly Churkin died in New York on Monday, a day before his 65th birthday. Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to posthumously award the Order of Courage to him.