Russia's ambassador to Mozambique, Alexander Surikov, aged 68, was found dead at his official residence in Maputo on Saturday night. The Mozambican Republic Police (PRM), which is investigating the case, indicated that the death appears to have been sudden and from causes as yet undetermined. However, the Russian authorities, through instructions sent to the consul Yuri Doroshenkov, who was present at the morgue, forbade any examination or autopsy of the body.
When the Mozambican authorities arrived at Maputo Central Hospital, they found that the ambassador's body had already been prepared for storage, preventing any further forensic investigation. The technical team limited itself to documenting the condition of the body with photographs and taking statements from the consul present. The PRM postponed any further comment until next Monday, leaving many questions open about the circumstances of the diplomat's death.
Surikov was known for his active involvement in diplomatic relations between Russia and Mozambique, having expressed in February this year Moscow's willingness to support Maputo in the fight against terrorism in Cabo Delgado, if necessary. These statements reiterated the long history of military cooperation between the two countries, underlining Russia's continuing readiness to help Mozambique.
The ambassador's death comes at a delicate moment for international relations.
