Kostikov confirmed he was leaving, telling Interfax that he had met Yeltsin last week to talk about "the framework of his resignation." But he refused to comment on the reasons for his departure.
Interfax said he would carry on in his job until a successor is appointed. One frequently mentioned name is the Foreign Ministry spokesman, Grigory Karasin.
Rumors of Kostikov's departure have been current since the end of September when he was unexpectedly left behind during Yeltsin's visit to the United States. An influential Duma deputy, who asked not to be named, said last Friday that a decree firing him had been signed the day before.
As Yeltsin's chief spokesman, Kostikov has been famed for his abrasive style and colorful language, which has often gone beyond what the president himself has said.
He has been with Yeltsin since May 1992 when he was summoned to the Kremlin from the democratic camp. In September, he said there was a fight going on in the Kremlin "over Yeltsin as a democrat."
Izvestia reported Wednesday that Kostikov had met Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev to discuss a posting abroad.
While Kostikov's fate remained in the balance, the Foreign Ministry saw one new appointment Wednesday. Career diplomat Nikolai Afanasyevsky was named deputy foreign minister overseeing issues of cooperation and security in Europe, Reuters reported quoting Itar-Tass.
Itar-Tass, quoting diplomatic sources, said Afanasyevsky, 54, had worked with the Foreign Ministry for 30 years. His latest posting was a four-year stint as Moscow's ambassador to Belgium where he also liaised with NATO.
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