As reported by the press service Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Latvia announced personnel changes at its Kyiv-based diplomatic mission: the acting ambassador Ilgvars Klava will be replaced by Andreis Pildgevichs, who will helm the embassy in Ukraine on a full-time basis. An experienced diplomat, who has spent many years in the Latvian foreign service, will take on the new role.
The appointment was announced by the press service of the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On August 12, at Riga Castle, there was an official ceremony: the president of the country, Edgars Rinkēvičs, presented credentials to the new ambassador Andreis Pildgevichs, officially confirming his appointment to the Kyiv post.
Pildgevichs replaces Ilgvars Klava, who has led the Latvian embassy in Ukraine since 2021. Such personnel rotations after about five years of service in a given country are considered a typical practice to maintain the dynamics of foreign policy and fresh approaches in diplomacy.
Andreis Pildgevichs has a long and versatile career in the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His path began in 1994, after which he held various positions in the ministry, notably from 2007 to 2012 he was the official representative of Riga to the United States.
From 2013 to 2018, Pildgevichs served as political director and State Secretary of the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 2018 to 2023, he represented the country at the United Nations. In the run-up to his appointment to Ukraine, over the past two years he headed the secretariat responsible for Latvia’s bid for a seat on the UN Security Council.
The new diplomatic appointment underscores Latvia’s commitment to maintaining active and coordinated ties with Ukraine, developing political and economic partnerships, and strengthening cooperation in security and humanitarian initiatives.