Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko will be appointed Russia's next ambassador to NATO, a diplomatic source has said.
Grushko's candidacy was being "considered," the source told RIA Novosti but did not elaborate.
There has been no official confirmation of the move from the authorities.
Russia’s mission to NATO has neither confirmed nor denied the report.
“We have no official information on the matter,” a mission official said.
NATO headquarters in Brussels said they had received information about Grushko’s possible appointment several months before.
“We heard about that several months ago but there has been no word since then,” a NATO officer said.
The post became vacant after the previous incumbent, Dmitry Rogozin, was promoted to deputy prime minister in December.
A veteran diplomat, Grushko has been in charge of Russia's relations with Euro-Atlantic organizations and general European matters.
Grushko led Russia’s delegation on military security and weapons control in Vienna between 1996 and 2000.
He also served as head of the Foreign Ministry’s department for cooperation with Europe.
