Russian envoy to Sudan dies of heart attack in swimming pool

MOSCOW: Russia’s ambassador to Sudan, who was found dead in a swimming pool at his Khartoum residence, died of a heart attack, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. He was 62.

“Everything happened around 6 p.m. local time. The Russian envoy was found in his residence with evidence of an acute heart attack,” said spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

Sudanese officials had announced the death of Mirgayas Shirinsky on Wednesday evening, and said a preliminary investigation pointed to a natural death.

Embassy staff called an ambulance but “Shirinsky could not be saved,” Zakharova said. He was a “great professional. He dedicated his life to diplomacy. We express sincere condolences to his family and loved ones.”

The ambassador is the sixth highlevel Russian diplomat to die overseas since November, including UN envoy Vitaly Churkin and Indian envoy Alexander Kadakin.

The first was Sergei Krivov, who was found dead in the Russian consulate in New York on the morning of the US election day.

Overall nine high-profile Russians, including several high ranking diplomats, have died over the nine months since the US presidential election on November 8.

Most died from natural causes, but the ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, who was shot dead by a terrorist during his speech at a photo exhibition in Ankara in December 2016.