MOSCOW, Aug. 3 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed a new ambassador to Syria, rotating Dmitry Dogadkin into the Damascus post after relieving him of his duties as Russia's envoy to Qatar last month.

The appointment was formalized through a presidential decree published Monday on Russia's official legal information portal. A separate decree simultaneously relieved Alexander Yefimov of his duties as ambassador to Syria.

Dogadkin's move from Doha to Damascus keeps him within the Gulf and Levant corridor but marks a significant change in diplomatic posting. Qatar has been one of the more active Gulf states in recent years, hosting peace negotiations and serving as a channel between conflicting parties, while also hosting one o...