Gregory Karasin is expected to replace with Ivan Volynkin, who is declared as Persona non grata in Georgia. According to the newspaper "Komersant", three candidates are selected but it is likely that he will appoint Volynkin.
Ivan Volynkin is 60 years old. He has been working at the Ministry since 1981. He was the Russian Ambassador in Georgia. In 2007, Ivan Volynkin, together with two Russian diplomats, was declared as persona non grata and expelled from the country.