Russia to name new Israeli envoy

MOSCOW, Feb. 9 (JTA) — Russia’s next ambassador to Israel will likely be Mikhail Bogdanov, Russian media reported. Bogdanov, whose appointment is to take place soon, would replace Alexander Bovin. Bogdanov, 44, is a career diplomat. The appointment would be his first ambassadorship. He has worked with Russian diplomatic missions in Syria and Lebanon. Bovin, a former journalist, was appointed Soviet ambassador to Israel in October 1991 by Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. Bovin was Moscow’s first ambassador to the Jewish state since the Soviet Union severed relations with Israel in 1967.