Russia’s ambassador to Sudan, Mirgayas Shirinskiy, was found dead in his swimming pool Wednesday — the fourth Russian envoy to die in just eight months.
Police found him at his home in home in the country’s capital, Khartoum, officials said. Doctors came immediately, but were not able to save him, according to Russian state media.
Shirinskiy, 62, had high blood pressure, and authorities believe he died of natural causes, police told Reuters.
Three other Russian emissaries have died in since December.
Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrey Karlov was assassinated in December, during a speech at an art gallery, by a gun-wielding former Turkish cop shouting “Allahu Akbar!” and “Don’t forget Aleppo! Don’t forget Syria!”
Ambassador to India Alexander Kadakin died at 68 from an illness in January, according to the Hindustan Times.
And Vitaly Churkin, ambassador to the UN, died of heart failure in his New York office the day before his 65th birthday in February.