# List of ambassadors of Russia to Syria

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Syrian Arab Republic is the official representative of the President and the Government of the Russian Federation to the President and the Government of Syria.
The ambassador and his staff work at large in the Embassy of Russia in Damascus.
The post of Russian Ambassador to Syria is currently held by Aleksandr Yefimov [ru], incumbent since 29 October 2018.

## History of diplomatic relations

Diplomatic relations between the Soviet Union and Syria were first established in July 1944 with the exchange of diplomatic missions. Daniel Solod was the first envoy, assigned to the post on 14 September 1944, and presenting his letter of credence on 26 October 1944. On 22 November 1955 relations were further strengthened with the establishment of embassies, with the representative's status raised from envoy to ambassador. In February 1958 the United Arab Republic was formed between Egypt and Syria. The new state had its capital in Cairo and representation was provided by the Soviet ambassador to Egypt. On 27 February 1958 the embassy in Damascus became a consulate general of the USSR. The new state was short-lived. Syria seceded in 1961, and diplomatic relations were restored at the embassy level, Consul General Anatoly Barkovsky [ru] continuing as the new ambassador. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 the last Soviet ambassador, Aleksandr Zotov [ru], continued in post as the representative of the Russian Federation.

## List of representatives (1944 – present)
### Representatives of the Soviet Union to Syria (1944 – 1958)

| Name | Title | Appointment | Termination | Notes |
| Daniel Solod | Envoy | 14 September 1944 | 22 April 1950 | |
| Ilya Tavadze [ru] | Envoy | 22 April 1950 | 24 November 1950 | |
| Vasily Belyaev [ru] | Envoy | 24 November 1950 | 2 September 1953 | |
| Sergei Nemchina [ru] | Envoy | 2 September 1953 | 22 February 1958 | Ambassador from 22 November 1955 |

### Consuls-General of the Soviet Union in Damascus (1958 – 1961)

| Name | Title | Appointment | Termination | Notes |
| Vasily Kornev [ru] | Consul general | 1958 | July 1961 | |
| Anatoly Barkovsky [ru] | Consul general | July 1961 | 3 November 1961 | |

### Representatives of the Soviet Union to Syria (1961 – 1991)

| Name | Title | Appointment | Termination |
| Anatoly Barkovsky [ru] | Ambassador | 3 November 1961 | 12 February 1968 |
| Nuritdin Mukhitdinov | Ambassador | 12 February 1968 | 1 April 1977 |
| Yuri Chernyakov [ru] | Ambassador | 1 April 1977 | 6 May 1979 |
| Vladimir Yukhin [ru] | Ambassador | 6 May 1979 | 12 September 1984 |
| Feliks Fedotov [ru] | Ambassador | 12 September 1984 | 23 September 1986 |
| Alexander Dzasokhov | Ambassador | 24 September 1986 | 27 January 1989 |
| Aleksandr Zotov [ru] | Ambassador | 27 January 1989 | 25 December 1991 |

### Representatives of the Russian Federation to Syria (1991 – present)

| Name | Title | Appointment | Termination |
| Aleksandr Zotov [ru] | Ambassador | 25 December 1991 | 13 September 1994 |
| Viktor Gogitidze [ru] | Ambassador | 13 September 1994 | 31 August 1999 |
| Robert Markaryan | Ambassador | 31 August 1999 | 10 November 2006 |
| Sergei Kirpichenko | Ambassador | 1 December 2006 | 7 September 2011 |
| Azamat Kulmukhametov [ru] | Ambassador | 7 September 2011 | 22 December 2014 |
| Alexander Kinshchak | Ambassador | 22 December 2014 | 29 October 2018 |
| Aleksandr Yefimov [ru] | Ambassador | 29 October 2018 | |