Russian Foreign Ministry appoints new head of CIS affairs

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has officially appointed Mikhail Alexandrovich Kalugin as the new Director of the 4th Department for Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries.

The announcement was made via a formal statement issued by the Ministry, confirming the appointment under Order No. 17114, dated August 1, 2025, Caliber.Az reports.

“Under the order of the Russian Foreign Ministry No. 17114 dated 01.08.2025, Mikhail Alexandrovich Kalugin has been appointed Director of the 4th Department for CIS countries,” the statement read.

Kalugin has been serving within the Russian diplomatic corps since 2002, holding a range of positions over the course of his career. From 2020 to 2025, he served as Deputy Director of the very department he now leads, gaining substantial expertise in the region and its complex political landscape.

The 4th Department for CIS countries is a key division within the Russian Foreign Ministry, responsible for managing diplomatic relations and regional policy concerning select post-Soviet states within the framework of the CIS.

By Vafa Guliyeva