The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Mozambique on Monday announced the commencement of investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of Alexander Surikov, a Russian ambassador in the country on Saturday.
The Foreign Affairs office in Maputo said it is “working in coordination” with the Russian Embassy in the country to ascertain the cause of the death.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation is working in coordination with the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Maputo, under the terms of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic and Consular Relations, to clarify the circumstances of his death,” the Ministry’s spokesman, José Matsinhe, said in a statement on Monday.
The contacts are also aimed at “guaranteeing due solemnity in the transfer of the body of the deceased back to the Russian Federation”, the Ministry added.
The spokesman said Ambassador Surikov, who has been in office since 2017, “spared no effort to materialise” “closer relations of friendship and cooperation” between the two countries.
The President of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi has since sent a message of condolence to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on the death of the envoy in Maputo, assuring support in the “subsequent” process.
“The early departure of Ambassador Surikov, a dedicated diplomat with exceptional qualities who, with unrivalled professionalism, was able to defend his country’s interests while promoting fruitful cooperation between our two countries, leaves a huge void,” the President’s condolence message reads in part.
In the same message, Filipe Nyusi reiterates the “solidarity” and “full support of the Government of Mozambique in the subsequent proceedings”.
The Mozambican Public Prosecutor’s Office (PGR) said it was unaware of the Russian authorities’ alleged decision not to authorise the Russian ambassador’s autopsy.
Heritage Times (HT) reports that Alexander Surikov, 68, was found dead on Saturday night at his official residence in Maputo.
According to the Mozambican police, the Russian authorities did not authorise any examination of the body.
