Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Fidel Castro, the socialist Cuban icon who has died aged 90, as the “symbol of an era,” the Kremlin said in a statement on Saturday. “The name of this distinguished statesman is rightly considered the symbol of an era in modern world history,” Putin said in a telegram to Cuban President Raul Castro cited by the Kremlin. “Fidel Castro was a sincere and reliable friend of Russia.”
Putin added that Castro has managed to build a “free and independent Cuba” that “became an influential member of the international community and served as an inspiration for many countries and peoples.”