UN Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Russian diplomat Gleb Desyatnikov as his Assistant for Mine Action and Police in the Department of Peace Operations (DPO). This is reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to an announcement published on the official website of the UN Secretary-General. The appointment is formalized as an official personnel decision of the Secretary-General's office, rather than as a temporary or advisory assignment.
What the New Assistant's Duties Will Include
According to the announcement, Desyatnikov will lead the directorate coordinating UN mine action as well as the work of police contingents within peacekeeping missions worldwide. Thus, two interconnected areas fall under his responsibility: reducing risks associated with mines and explosive remnants of war, and ensuring the police component in peacekeeping missions. The Secretary-General's office publication emphasizes that «Desyatnikov has over 35 years of experience in international relations, political affairs, and security issues within government, multilateral diplomacy, and conflict-affected regions».
The Diplomat's Professional Career
The Secretary-General's office recalled the key milestones of Desyatnikov's career. Since 2018, he has served as the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Prior to that, from 2010 to 2018, he headed the Department of the Middle East and North Africa at the Russian Foreign Ministry. Earlier, he worked as a senior advisor for Middle Eastern and North African affairs at Russia's Permanent Mission to the UN in New York (2004–2010), headed the political department for Iran and Jordan at the Foreign Ministry (2000–2004), and served in the Russian Embassy in Jordan from 1997 to 2000. In addition, between 1994 and 1997, Desyatnikov was deployed on several missions as part of the UN Special Commission on Iraq.
Context and Significance of the Appointment
The appointment links the diplomat's experience in conflict-affected regions with the practical tasks of peacekeeping operations, where mine action and police contingents are crucial elements for security and the protection of civilians. The official announcement notes that Desyatnikov's role focuses precisely on coordinating these areas within the DPO, making him one of the Secretary-General's specialized assistants for this portfolio of issues.
Source of Information
The basis for publication is the announcement on the UN Secretary-General's website, referenced by RBC-Ukraine. Additional independent confirmations or comments from the parties are not provided in the submitted materials, so the factual base of the article is limited to the official announcement by the Secretary-General's office and the career data of the diplomat cited in the same announcement.
