Yevgeny Primakov, a prominent Russian politician, former foreign minister and premier has died in Moscow aged 85.
President Putin expressed his condolences over Primakov's death, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday.
"The president was delivered the sad news of Yevgeny Maximovich Primakov's death and the president has expressed deep condolences to the family and friends of Yevgeny Maximovich," Peskov told journalists.
Peskov said that Putin and Primakov had worked together for a long time and knew each other well.
"He was a statesman, a scholar, a politician and has left behind him a huge legacy," Peskov added.