The newly appointed Non-Resident Ambassador of the Maldives to the Russian Federation, Lieutenant General (Retd) Abdul Raheem Abdul Latheef, presented his Letters of Credence to President Vladimir Putin on Thursday.

The credential ceremony was held at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, formally marking the commencement of Ambassador Abdul Raheem’s diplomatic duties as the Maldives’ envoy to the Russian Federation. Envoys from several other countries also presented their credentials to President Putin during the same ceremony.

Addressing the assembled diplomats, President Putin said Russia is ready for a multipolar world, emphasising his country’s approach to international relations. Speaking specifically about the Maldives, he said Russia has been consistently developing relations in traditional sectors such as fisheries, tourism, agriculture and energy, and expressed commitment to expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Ambassador Abdul Raheem currently serves as the Ambassador of the Republic of Maldives to the Republic of Türkiye. He will concurrently serve as Non-Resident Ambassador to the Russian Federation, with residence in Ankara.