Feds Block NYC From Releasing Russian Ambassador's Cause Of Death

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — The NYC Medical Examiner announced Friday that the city will not release the cause and manner of death of Vitaly Churkin, a veteran Russian diplomat who dropped dead at age 64 during a day at work in Russia's United Nations headquarter building on East 67th Street.

Churkin was serving as Russia's head ambassador to the U.N. when he died on Feb. 20. His colleagues called his death a "shock" and a "tragedy."

A spokesman for the medical examiner said the order to keep Churkin's cause of death under wraps came from NYC's Law Department — the office in charge of protecting the city from legal action — on instructions from the U.S. State Department.

The State Department declined to comment on its reasoning. An "official" from the department would only provide a single sentence "on background."

Here's what the anonymous federal official said: "We are not in a position to comment or to provide any details on the autopsy consistent with our obligations under the Headquarters Agreement between the United States and the United Nations."

A State Department spokesperson would not say whether this same agreement — which gives the U.N. "control and authority" over the 18-acre plot of land on the Upper East Side where its buildings are located — has ever before been used to block a foreign diplomat's autopsy results from being released in the U.S.

The city did, in contrast, release autopsy results for another Russian diplomat found dead at Russia's consulate in NYC — also located on the Upper East Side, although not within the U.N. compound — on Election Day. The medical examiner ruled he died of natural causes.

Probed for more information on Churkin's death Friday, various city agencies — the NYPD, the mayor's office, the Law Department and the local United Nations office — all referred Patch to the State Department. (Which, as we mentioned, would not provide any details beyond the sentence about the Headquarters Agreement.)

The medical examiner's office was slightly more forthcoming. Julie Bolcer, the office's spokesman, provided two letters sent to the mayor's legal counsel by the U.S. Mission to the U.N. in late February and early March, pleading with the city not to release Churkin's autopsy results.

In the letters, included below, the head of the mission argues that Churkin's "diplomatic immunity survives his death."

Bill de Blasio's office would not provide Patch with the city's side of the correspondence.

This story will be updated.

Lead photo by Andrew Burkin/Getty Images