List of ambassadors of Russia to Ethiopia

Russia established diplomatic relations with Ethiopia on August 9, 1897 and send its first head of mission, P.M. Vlasov. The successful development of Russo-Ethiopian relations, at least at the first stage (until 1907), was mainly due to the fact that Russia did not participate in the colonial division of Africa and, therefore, did not pose any threat to Ethiopia. Russia was the great global power and thus country like Ethiopia needed an ally to continue its existance. And as a rival of British Empire and Italy in global and regional politics, Russia objectively became in Ethiopia a political counterbalance to the imperialist plans of these powers. The Russian mission was tasked with “gaining the trust of the Negus and, if possible, protecting him from the intrigues of our political rivals, especially the British, who pursue such ambitious, predatory goals in Africa.”

With the end of the Tsarist regime in 1917 the diplomatic relations interrupted, howerver it was resumed by the Soviet Union on April 21, 1943. The first Soviet ambassador Victor S. Kozlov arrived in the country on March 9, 1944.

• Ethiopia–Russia relations
• Foreign relations of Ethiopia
• List of diplomatic missions in Ethiopia
• Current Ambassadors of Russia

• Embassy of Russia in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia