Putin sacks Russia deputy FM who oversaw relations with Europe

Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed First Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov. The respective decree by the head of state was posted on the Russian legal information portal.

The reason for this diplomat's sacking, however, is not noted in the decree. Since April 2013, Titov was in charge of Russia's administrative, personnel, consular affairs, as well as relations with European countries. Titov's dismissal has coincided with a new phase of aggravation of relations between Russia and the European Union.