Russia–Rwanda relations

On 30 June 1962, a day before Rwanda gained independence from Belgium, the Soviet Union sent a telegram to Kigali recognising Rwanda as a sovereign and independent state, and offered to establish diplomatic relations.[1] Diplomatic relations were established between the two states on 17 October 1963.[2]

Rwanda recognised the Russian Federation in January 1992 as the successor state of the Soviet Union, after the latter's dissolution.[2] Russia has an embassy in Kigali. The current Ambassador of Russia to Rwanda is Andrey Vradimirovich Polyakov, who was appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in June 2013,[3] and who presented his Letters of Credence to Rwandan President Paul Kagame on 12 March 2007.[2] Due to financial difficulties, the Rwandan embassy in Moscow closed at the end of 1995, and all the activities of the Embassy were shifted to the Rwandan Embassy in Berlin-Germany until recently in March 2013 when Rwandan cabinet appointed its new Ambassador to Russia to be based in Moscow. The current Ambassador of Rwanda to Russia Dr Jeanne d'Arc Mujawamariya who presented her letter of credence to the President of Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin on January 16, 2014; replacing the Ambassador of Rwanda to Germany Ms Christine Nkurikiyinka who took over from Ambassador Eugene Gasana.

In 2003, Charles Murigande the then Rwanda Foreign Minister called on Russia for assistance with public health services. He noted that there was 1 doctor for every 50,000 Rwandans, and in 1989 the Soviet Union promised assistance in this field, but it was not forthcoming due to problems with payment.[4]

The official website of the Embassy of Rwanda is www.russia.embassy.gov.rw. The address is 115127 MOSCOW, 50 MOSFILMOVSKAYA STREET, Building 1, 1st Floor. Telephone: 8(499) 147-19-92