Canada, the US and the UK want Aleksei Mozhin, Russia’s representative at the IMF, to relinquish or be stripped of his title as honorary head of the executive board of the multilateral lender, due to the invasion of Ukraine.

According to people familiar with the matter, Canada first proposed that Mozhin give up the title of dean of the IMF board during a meeting on February 25, a day after Russia unleashed its attack. The US backed the effort during the same meeting and the UK is also supportive of his removal from the position, the sources said.

The role of dean of the executive board — which Mozhin has held since 2015 — is a largely honorary title conferred to the longest serving member, which carries no official responsibilities or authority. The managing director of the IMF — currently Kristalina Georgieva — chairs the board and is responsible for calling meetings, setting the agenda and facilitating the discussion.