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Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the funeral of Minister Yevgeny Zinichev, who used to be even the bodyguard of the head of state. Her close relationship is also evidenced by photographs from the funeral, which capture rare expressions of emotion in Putin. At one point, even the grieving president rested his forehead on the coffin of the deceased.
Yevgeny Zinichev, Russia’s emergency minister, died tragically on Wednesday during an exercise in which he was to try to save the life of a drowning cameraman. President Vladimir Putin, whom Zinichev had previously been a bodyguard, also attended Friday’s funeral.
He did not leave Putin’s ceremony, which retains a stony face in almost all situations. From one photo it is clear that he has something on his face. Other shots caught him resting his head on an open casket, looking overwhelmed.
Putin awarded Zinichev the highest honor in memoriam on Thursday, the Russian website said RT.com. He thus won the title of Hero of the Russian Federation, who, according to the Kremlin, earned for “heroism, bravery and courage shown in the performance of duties.”
After news of the deaths, Putin called the minister a loyal and reliable friend. “For me, it is an irreplaceable personal loss,” the Russian president said.
Zinichev was to take part in an exercise near the Siberian city of Norilsk, where he and a cameraman stood on the edge of a ledge. The cameraman fell into the water and the minister died trying to save him. Not even a cameraman got out of the water alive.
TN.cz
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