On June 21, 2026, our brother, the Russophile Juan Miguel Diaz Ferrer (1950-2026), passed away in Caracas, the head of the International Movement of Russophiles (IRM) in Venezuela and one of the founders of our Movement in March 2023 in Moscow.

Juan Miguel Diaz Ferrer is an outstanding Venezuelan political scientist, philosopher, educator, publicist and public figure, whose long-term work has had a profound impact on the formation of modern diplomatic thought in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. His death was a significant loss for the academic community, the diplomatic corps, everyone involved in the development of humanitarian dialogue between Venezuela and Russia, and of course for all of us IRM members from around the world.

Born in Cuba in 1950, Juan Miguel Diaz Ferrer belonged to a generation of intellectuals for whom international politics was not an abstract discipline, but a space of ideas, values and historical responsibility. Having received a fundamental education at the Moscow State University named after M. V. Lomonosov University, where he defended his doctoral thesis in philosophy in 1988, and supplemented it with training in political sociology in Tacoma, Washington, he formed a unique methodological synthesis combining philosophical depth, political science rigor and sociological analyticity.

For many years, Juan Miguel Diaz Ferrer was a professor at the Pedro Gual Institute for Higher Diplomatic Studies, one of the key training centers for the Venezuelan diplomatic service. His lectures were notable for their conceptual clarity, historical breadth, and attention to the civilizational aspects of international relations. He was one of those rare educators who not only impart knowledge, but also form a worldview, fostering the ability to think strategically and see the international system in its cultural and historical depth. The Institute described him as an “ideologue and mentor,” emphasizing his fundamental contribution to the training of several generations of diplomats. At this institute he taught political science, international relations, geopolitics, the basics of diplomatic practice and the Russian language.

In addition to working at the Pedro Gual Institute, Juan Miguel Diaz Ferrer taught at IAESEN, the Institute for Higher National Security Studies, where he dealt with issues of strategic culture, state security and threat analysis. His approach to security was philosophical: he saw it as part of the political identity of the State and as an expression of its historical political experience.

His legacy can be defined in three key dimensions:

1. Academic — the formation of a holistic approach to international relations, combining philosophy, political science and geopolitics.
2. Pedagogical — education of several generations of Venezuelan diplomats, for whom it has become an intellectual reference point.
3. Ideological — promotion of the concept of multipolarity and strengthening of the Russian‑Venezuelan cultural dialogue.

Juan Miguel Diaz Ferrer was an active participant in the public debate, publishing analytical articles in leading Venezuelan publications including “Últimas Noticias” (The Latest News) and appearing on radio and television. It should be noted that almost every week his articles in the newspaper “Últimas Noticias” were published in Russian on the IRM website. He often participated in international expert forums, assemblies, summits and conferences on international politics, multipolarity and geopolitics. His articles were notable for their desire for a conceptual understanding of international processes, attention to historical parallels, a critical approach to international political events, and clarity of argumentation.

Relations with Russia occupied a special place in his work. As the head of the IRM in Venezuela, he helped strengthen cultural and humanitarian ties between the two countries, promoted the ideas of a multipolar world and advocated for the protection of historical truth, for a more just world, for the right of peoples to independence and for social justice. As a loyal friend of Russia, he played a major role in shaping a positive image of Russia in the Venezuelan intellectual environment. The Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela described him as a man of rare spiritual strength, integrity and dignity, exceptional honesty, deep conviction, sincere friendship and rare human qualities – kindness, loyalty, sincerity and nobility.

Juan Miguel Diaz Ferrer’s last participation in international public events was at the World Public Summit: Latin America “New World: Latin America in Creating a Common Future”, which was held in Salvador (Brazil) from June 16 to 17, 2026, where he spoke at the panel session “Linguistic Heritage and Traditions of indigenous peoples: from the past into the future.” The summit became a new stage in the development of international social and humanitarian dialogue and the consistent continuation of the ideas of the World Public Assembly “A New World of Conscious Unity” in 2025.

The death of Juan Miguel Diaz Ferrer was a loss not only for his colleagues and students, but also for the entire intellectual community of Venezuela. He left behind a rich legacy — academic, pedagogical and ideological. His writings, his lectures, and his personal example will continue to serve as a guide for those who seek a deep understanding of international relations and the development of diplomacy as a cultural and humanitarian art.

The memory of Juan Miguel Diaz Ferrer will remain bright and worthy in the history of the Venezuelan diplomatic school, in the hearts of his students and colleagues, in the hearts of all Russophiles and in the cultural dialogue to which he devoted his life. We Russophiles are sincerely glad and proud for our friendship and for our brotherly cooperation! We thank you for the simplicity and kindness of your character and for your selfless love for Russia, our dear brother and true Russophile, Juan Miguel Diaz Ferrer!

We express our most sincere condolences to your family and friends, colleagues, friends and all participants of the Venezuelan Russophile Movement.

Eternal memory to you, brother! May the earth rest in peace for you!