‘What is the big idea?’ Russian ambassador fights for wife’s right to join social club

Russia's ambassador to the US, Alexander Darchiev, has died in Moscow at the age of 66. The Russian Foreign Ministry described him as an outstanding diplomat, an experienced leader, and a brilliant scholar of US history. While Free Malaysia Today reported that the ministry gave no cause of death, DW News stated that Darchiev died from a chronic illness. DW English (Top Stories) added that the illness was unspecified.

Darchiev was appointed to his post in March 2025, following a six-month vacancy after Anatoly Antonov was relieved of his duties in October 2024. His previous roles included serving as Russia's ambassador to Canada from 2014 to 2021 and directing the foreign ministry's North America and North Atlantic departments. According to DW English (Top Stories), Darchiev also led Russia's negotiating team during US-Russia peace talks in Istanbul, Turkey, in February 2025.

The US State Department confirmed Darchiev died on Wednesday in Moscow and offered condolences to his family. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned against the spread of conspiracy theories regarding his passing, accusing US media outlets of being particularly active in such speculation.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Free Malaysia Today, DW News, DW English (Top Stories) — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.