The newly appointed Non-Resident Ambassador of the Republic of Maldives to the Russian Federation, Lieutenant General (Retd) Abdul Raheem Abdul Latheef, presented his Letters of Credence to Vladimir V. Putin at a ceremony held yesterday at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow.
During the ceremony, Ambassador Abdul Raheem conveyed greetings from President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to President Putin, as well as to the Government and people of the Russian Federation. The presentation of credentials formally marked the commencement of his duties as Non-Resident Ambassador to Russia.
Ambassador Abdul Raheem currently serves as the Ambassador of the Republic of Maldives to the Republic of Türkiyeand will concurrently hold the post of Non-Resident Ambassador to the Russian Federation, with residence in Ankara.
Maldives–Russia relations have largely been shaped by tourism-driven people-to-people links, with Russia consistently ranking among the Maldives’ most important source markets for visitor arrivals. Russian tourists have played a significant role in sustaining resort occupancy, employment, and foreign currency inflows, particularly during periods when arrivals from other markets have fluctuated, making the relationship economically relevant despite limited high-level political engagement.
