The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation traces its lineage to the Soviet era and continues the work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. That earlier body operated under the supervision of the Soviet Ministry of External Relations before transitioning from communist ideology to modern state diplomacy.
Presidential Decree 1163 issued on the 11th of September 2007, reorganized the central office into thirty-nine departments. Each department employs between thirty and sixty diplomats who handle specific regional or functional tasks while four additional divisions operate outside this main structure.
Sergei Lavrov currently holds the position of foreign minister representing Russia in bilateral and multilateral negotiations worldwide. In 2024, Alexey Ostrovsky became General Director after serving since February 5 following previous leaders like Igor Ivanov who served from the 16th of October 1992 until the 14th of November 1994.
The Permanent Mission to the United Nations stands as one of the largest foreign offices at that organization and conducts negotiations on behalf of the Russian Federation regarding major international problems. The Representative Office is headed by a Permanent Representative appointed by the President who appears before all UN structures including Security Council meetings.
The Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides professional training for new officials while Moscow State Institute of International Relations serves as another key educational pillar within the system. The Foreign Ministry College offers additional instruction for those entering the field alongside a Russian Center for International Scientific and Cultural Cooperation supporting broader academic exchange programs.