Israeli diplomat Yacov Livne becomes charge d'affaires in Russia
MOSCOW. Nov 12 (Interfax) - The director of the First Eurasia Department at the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Yacov Livne, has assumed office as Israel's charge d'affaires in Russia, the country's embassy in Moscow said.
"As of today, Yacov Livne is Israel charge d'affaires in the Russian Federation," the embassy announced on Facebook.
"The experienced diplomat is glad to be back in Moscow where he already had the honor to work 25 years ago.
"Over the coming months he will lead the diplomatic staff's efforts to strengthen Russian-Israeli relations and preparations for Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Israel due in January 2020."
According to his biography on the embassy's website, Livne was born in Moscow in 1967 and repatriated to Israel in 1974.
Throughout his diplomatic career he served as the embassy's press secretary in Moscow, head of the Central Asia and Caucasus department, an advisor the Israeli embassy in Berlin, head of the United States section at the Center for Political Research at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and chaired the diplomatic trade union at the ministry.
It was reported that Gary Koren, who became ambassador to Russia in nearly 2017, quit in September.