26 Jun 2015 14:00

State Duma holds minute's silence for Yevgeny Primakov

MOSCOW. June 26 (Interfax) - Friday's 'Open Tribune' session in the State Duma started with a minute's silence for prominent Russian politician Yevgeny Primakov, who died in Moscow today.

"We have received bad news - Yevgeny Maximovich Primakov - a wonderful person and statesman - has passed away," State Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin said, opening the session.

It is a tragedy, he said.

"He [Primakov] made an enormous contribution to the development of domestic and even world science. He held high-ranking state posts. His career was connected with foreign relations in many ways, including at the post of foreign minister," Naryshkin said.

Primakov also made a major contribution to the development of modern Russia and its society, he said.