The ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the State of Israel is the official representative of the president and the government of the Russian Federation to the prime minister and the government of Israel.
The ambassador and his staff work at large in the Embassy of Russia in Tel Aviv. There is a consulate general in Haifa. The post of Russian ambassador to Israel is currently held by , incumbent since 5 April 2018.
History of diplomatic relations
Diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union and Israel were formalised in May 1948, not long after the Israeli Declaration of Independence. The first envoy, , was appointed on 26 June 1948, and presented his credentials on 17 August that year. Diplomatic relations were briefly suspended by the Soviet government with Yershov's recall in February 1953, but were restored in July that year, and was appointed the new envoy in August. Relations were further strengthened the following year with the conversion of the missions to the level of embassies.
In June 1967 the Soviet Union once more broke off relations, over the Six-Day War. For the next thirty years diplomatic relations were officially broken, until a thaw took place under the leadership of Mikhail Gorbachev. A consular mission was established in August 1987, and on 30 September 1990 this resulted in the opening of consulates, and the appointment of a consul general. On 3 January 1991 diplomatic relations were officially restored, and on 18 October 1991 the consulate general was upgraded to an embassy. Alexander Bovin was appointed as the new ambassador, and presented his credentials on 23 December 1991. With the official dissolution of the Soviet Union two days later, Bovin remained in post as representative of the Russian Federation, serving until 1997.
List of representatives (1948–present) Soviet Union to Israel (1948–1991) NameTitleAppointmentTerminationNotesEnvoy26 June 194811 February 1953 Envoy (before 16 June 1954)Ambassador (after 16 June 1954)8 August 195321 January 1958 Mikhail BodrovAmbassador21 January 1958 15 October 1964 Ambassador15 October 196410 June 1967 Six Day War - Diplomatic relations interrupted (1967 - 1991)Alexander BovinAmbassador12 November 199125 December 1991
Russian Federation to Israel (1991–present) NameTitleAppointmentTerminationNotesAlexander BovinAmbassador25 December 1991 24 March 1997 Mikhail BogdanovAmbassador24 March 1997 1 February 2002Ambassador1 February 200231 January 2007 Ambassador31 January 2007 8 July 2011Ambassador8 July 201110 July 2015 Ambassador10 July 2015 5 April 2018Ambassador5 April 2018
References
External links Russian consulate in Israel