MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Earlier this month, the Izvestiya newspaper reported, citing Russian Academy of Sciences US and Canadian Studies Institute Scientific Coordinator Sergey Rogov, that Kislyak would return to Moscow on July 22.
"Russia's Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak… after returning to Russia, will represent the interests of one of the Russian governors in the Federation Council… Kislyak’s new appointment will begin after regional elections in September but before one of the acting governors names him among the three senatorial candidates," the sources were quoted as saying by the Vedomosti newspaper.
Later in the day, a high-ranking parliamentary source told Sputnik that Kislyak will be a senator acting on behalf of the head of the region of Mordovia.
"Kislyak will be a senator from Mordovia, from the governor," the source said.
Russia has repeatedly called on the US to stop the "bullying" campaign against Kislyak, adding that he regularily meets US officials as it is his duty.
According to diplomatic sources, Kislyak's replacement, Anatoly Antonov, has been approved by the foreign affairs committee of the lower house of the Russian parliament, the State Duma, in late May. Antonov previously served as the Deputy Defense Minister of Russia. Antonov has spent over 30 years in the Foreign Ministry, with his work being focused on issues of security and disarmament. In February 2011, Antonov became Deputy Defense Minister. He was appointed Deputy Foreign Minister on December 28, 2016.
