He then settled in the Hague, until the Treaty of Nystad concluded the war in 1721. Thereupon he was appointed Minister Plenipotentiary in Stockholm, a position which he filled with notable success. During his tenure, Sweden recognized Russia as an empire and concluded a defensive alliance with her for 12 years. Catherine I of Russia, however, ordered him to move to Warsaw in 1726, while Empress Anna removed him to Berlin before having him returned to Stockholm in 1732. Although the alliance with Sweden was prolonged, Bestuzhev was exposed to street violence more than once and was briefly taken into custody when the new Russo-Swedish War erupted in 1741.