Greek and Russian Ambassadors in Switzerland honour Ioannis Kapodistrias

The Greek and Russian Ambassadors in Switzerland honoured former diplomat of the Russian Empire and the first president of Greece, Ioannias Kapodistrias.

Russian Ambassador Sergei Garmonin, Greek Ambassador Ekaterini Xagorari, the Vice-Mayor of Lausanne and Honorary Russian Consul General in Lausanne Frederik Dag Arfst Paulsen laid flowers at the bust of Kapodistrias.

The Twitter account of the Russian Embassy in Bern described Kapodistrias as "an outstanding diplomat of the Russian Empire and the first President of independent Greece."

Although Kapodristiras' impressive work for Russia and Greece is well known, often overlooked is his fame in Switzerland.

As an unofficial Russian ambassador to Switzerland, he helped secure the country's famous independence and neutrality.

He also facilitated a new federal constitution that would organise Switzerland into 19 cantons.

On 21 September 2009, the city of Lausanne in western Switzerland inaugurated a bronze statue of Kapodistrias.

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