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On 11 July 2025, President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs presented a letter of credence at the Riga Castle to Dace Rutka, the incoming Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Latvia to the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Dace Rutka began her career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1998 in the State Protocol. She has worked in the Asian and African Countries Division, served as Head of the Americas and the Caribbean Division, and was Deputy Director of the Second Bilateral Relations Department. She has also headed the Humanitarian Affairs Division and the Human Rights Division.
She has held the position of Head of the Chancellery of the Embassy of Latvia to the Holy See in Riga, as well as the Embassy to the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Malta.
Dace Rutka has served in Latvian embassies in Canada, Belarus, and Russia. Since 2023, she has served as the Chargé d’affaires ad interim of the Embassy of Latvia to Russia.
During her diplomatic career, she has been awarded the Cross of Recognition by the Republic of Latvia and promoted to the rank of Officer. She has also received the Knightly Order pro Merito Melitensi from the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Malta.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in theology from the University of Latvia, a master’s degree from the Pontifical Lateran University’s affiliate – the Higher Institute of Religious Studies in Riga, and a professional qualification in external relations management from the Faculty of Economics and Management at the University of Latvia.
Dace Rutka replaces Irina Mangule, who represented Latvia’s interests in Kazakhstan since 2021.