Russia’s Ambassador to Mozambique, 68-year-old Alexander Surikov, was found dead at his residence in the country’s capital, Maputo, on Saturday night.
What You Need to Know:
According to the Portuguese language outlet Lusa, which was granted access to reports from the Mozambican Police, the statesman was found dead on Saturday night, with preliminary reports presuming a “sudden death from undetermined causes.”
Russian authorities have reportedly denied a request from Maputo Central Hospital to conduct an examination of the body or an autopsy. However, Lusa reported, “the technical team took photographs of the deceased’s body in the drawer, photographs were taken of the deceased’s home, and the consul’s statement was taken.”
Local reports allege the Ambassador suffered a stroke, from which he subsequently died, although these reports remain unsubstantiated.
The Details:
Alexander Surikov was appointed to the position of Ambassador in July 2017 through a Presidential decree. Since then, the Ambassador continued to strengthen ties with the African nation, including offering military support to bolster forces fighting Islamic militants in the northern region of Cabo Delgado.
Last speaking to the media in early February on the matter, Surikov claimed, “[Maputo] can always count on Russia.”
“We have many years of experience of cooperation in the military sphere with Mozambique. We have helped this country build its armed forces, and they know perfectly well about our capabilities. If they need any specific help, we are always there for them.”
It is currently unclear if the Ambassador was suffering from any health issues before his death, with that information unlikely to be made public.
