Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin throws soil on the grave of former prime minister Yevgeny Primakov on Monday.—AFP

MOSCOW: Russia on Monday bade farewell to former prime minister, foreign minister and master spy Yevgeny Primakov, with a state funeral for one of the last Soviet-era political titans who died last week aged 85.

Dignitaries led by President Vladimir Putin paid their last respects to the former prime minister, whose remains lay in state in the House of the Unions in central Moscow flanked by an honour guard. “Without doubt he was a great citizen of our country,” Putin said after laying flowers by the coffin and briefly touching it with his hand.

“His authority was indisputable abroad. He was always the centre of attraction for many people. People talked to him, consulted him, compared notes with him. I can say this is also entirely true about me”. “You are in our hearts. Goodbye,” he said, an array of Primakov’s medals laid flat on velvet cushions in front of the casket.

Top dignitaries including Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and US ambassador John Tefft filed past the coffin in the columned hall of the House of the Unions, where the state funerals of Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin and other leaders were also held.

“We are not letting you go, grandfather,” his grandson, Yevgeny Primakov Junior, said during the ceremony, broadcast on state television in its entirety.

“You will have to serve us as our moral compass,” he added before asking the mourners to give the former premier a round of applause, an honour usually reserved for top celebrities in Russia.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2015

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