Russian Consul-General bids farewell to Phuket Governor
RUSSIAN CONSUL GENERAL VLADIMIR Sosnov has held a farewell meeting with Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat as he prepares to leave his post.
Although the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not officially announced the end of Mr Sosnov’s tenure, a statement from the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department (PR Phuket) explicitly stated his imminent departure.
The meeting took place at Phuket Provincial Hall on Apr 18 with PR Phuket posting the report later that same day. No further details have been released since then.
“Governor Sophon Suwannarat welcomed Consul General Vladimir Sosnov of the Russian Federation for a farewell courtesy visit before he departs from his role at the ConsulateGeneral of the Russian Federation in Phuket.
“Over the past years, the bilateral relations between Phuket and Russia have significantly enhanced. This partnership extends back over 125 years,” PR Phuket reported.
Mr Sosnov has served as the Russian Consul General in Phuket since 2020, marking a full four-year tenure. Mr Sosnov was at the helm of the diplomatic mission well ahead of its official opening in July 2023.
The Russian government ratified the establishment of the consulate on July 31, 2018, under order number 1571-R signed by then-Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.
The official announcement of Mr Sosnov assuming the role of Consul-General was published in the Thai Royal Gazette on April 1, 2020.
Mr Sosnov’s inaugural meeting with thenGovernor Phakaphong Thawipatana took place on May 25, 2020.
Although the consulate was already operational, its official inauguration was held later, on July 15, 2023, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in attendance.
The Russian Consulate General is located in the Royal Phuket Marina complex on Thepkrasattri Rd, midway between Phuket Town and Cherng Talay.
The Consulate-General serves a broad region, including the provinces of Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, Ranong, Trang, Satun, Chumphon, Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Narathiwat, Phatthalung, Songkhla and Yala.
Despite Facebook being outlawed by the Russian Government and effectively banned in Russia, the Russian Consulate-General in Phuket maintains a Facebook page for posting news updates and statements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
As of last Saturday (Apr 20), the page had not posted any updates on Mr Sosnov’s status as Consul-General in Phuket. The Phuket News