Russian ambassador from 'cocaine case' moves from Argentina to Mexico
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree relieving Russian ambassador to Argentina Viktor Koronelli, who informed the Argentine authorities about the discovery of cocaine in the back room of the school attached to the embassy. Another presidential decree appointed Koronelli to the post of Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Russia in Mexico, relieving his predecessor, Eduard Malayan, from office.
Viktor Koronelli called his appointment to the post a great honor and trust, which he will try to justify. “Mexico, like Argentina, is one of the key countries in the region, and is part of the G20. So it is a big responsibility. But we have a long history and a good, stable relationship. I will work to further strengthen and develop it,” said the ambassador, as quoted by news agency RBK.
The diplomat added that it is too early to discuss his plans for the new post. “I will prepare, but I have to go there and start to work in the actual location,” he said.
Vladimir Putin appointed Dmitry Feoktistov as the new ambassador to Argentina, who was previously deputy head of the department for new challenges and threats in the central office of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Dmitry Feoktistov has held the post of Ambassador to Argentina since 2011. In February 2018, the special services of Russia and Argentina conducted a joint special operation to suppress drug trafficking. In the school attached to the Russian embassy in Buenos Aires, 389 kilograms of cocaine were found in 12 suitcases, which were to be sent to Russia.
The head of the Ministry of Security of Argentina Patricia Bullrich said that it was Koronelli who told the authorities about the discovered drugs. The diplomat said that the first attendant of the embassy found the suitcases with cocaine in the back rooms of the school at the embassy when he was conducting an inspection. According to Koronelli, the special services of the two countries conducted an investigation for more than a year to catch those involved in the crime. The diplomat said that law enforcement officials in Argentina were involved in the delivery of the cocaine.
Six people were arrested in connection with the case, including former diplomat Alexander Chikalo. Two were arrested in Argentina, and four in Russia. Among those arrested was a former accountant of the Russian embassy, who worked in the diplomatic mission until July 2016. The man is suspected of having brought the 12 suitcases to the diplomatic mission building. Another defendant in the case is a police inspector of Buenos Aires, an Argentinean of Russian descent, Ivan Bliznyuk, who was arrested at the airport in Moscow immediately after his arrival from Rome. In early March, German police arrested Andrei Kovalchuk, the main suspect in the case, in Berlin.