As of 1 September, Luxembourg has a new ambassador to Russia following the decision by Jean-Claude Knebeler to step down from the post and take a four-year break from diplomacy. Georges Faber, who was ambassador to Turkey, has taken up the post as the grand duchy’s senior diplomat in Moscow.

Knebeler had previously requested a one-year extension to his mission in Moscow so that he could stay in the Russian capital for family reasons. When that request was denied, Knebeler asked for a two-year leave without pay for professional reasons, foreign minister Jean Asselborn (LSAP) told Reporter.

Knebeler has now been hired by a Russian NGO which he told Reporter’s Véronique Poujol is “an academic research centre dedicated to green finance to help Russia introduce ESG standards. It is internal lobbying for Russia to help it develop environmental and social criteria and try to improve governance.”

According to Reporter Knebeler had been offered, and declined, the job, last occupied by Francine Closener, of heading up Luxembourg’s nation branding effort. The job would also have entailed being in charge of certain aspects of economic diplomacy.

The nation branding job will now be handled by Beryl Koltz. The former film director, who has been head of the communication department of the Œuvre Grand-Duchess Charlotte since 2017, will take up post on 15 September.