MOSCOW, April 25 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's first post-Soviet leader Boris Yeltsin dreamed of making life in Russia decent, and the country's leadership will continue working to achieve this goal, President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday.
"Boris Nikolayevich, however difficult it was for him and whatever difficulties the country was going through, always believed in Russia's revival and transformation, respected the talent and power of the Russian nation," Putin said at a mourning reception in St. George's Hall, the biggest and most solemn hall of the Kremlin palace.
"He sincerely tried to do everything possible to make the life of millions of Russians worthy of such a proud title," the Russian leader said, adding that this was Yeltsin's dream. "We will walk toward this goal."
Yeltsin was buried at a central Moscow cemetery Wednesday following a memorial ceremony attended by Russian and foreign dignitaries and earlier by thousands of ordinary Russians.
Unlike former Soviet leaders who were buried on Red Square, Yeltsin was laid to rest in the Novodevichy cemetery alongside Russian and Soviet writers, composers, scientists, and politicians. The funeral was preceded by a church ceremony, the first for a former head of state since before the Bolshevik revolution.
The coffin was taken by gun carriage to the cemetery, the funeral procession was followed by President Vladimir Putin, two former U.S. presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush, Sr., former British Prime Minister Sir John Major, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, representing the British royal family, and other foreign guests.
Thousands of Russians lined the two-mile cortege route from the Christ the Savior Cathedral, demolished under Josef Stalin in the 1930s and reconstructed under Yeltsin, to the Novodevichy Monastery. Yeltsin's body had laid in state at the cathedral from Tuesday till Wednesday, where an estimated 25,000 Russians had paid their last respects to the former leader.
After the last farewells from his widow, Naina Yeltsin, and their two daughters, a prayer was offered and the coffin closed. As it was lowered into the grave, the Kremlin regiment gave a three-gun salute, and the national anthem was played.
Yeltsin, praised by many for pioneering democratic reforms and criticized by others for impoverishing millions during his tenure in the 1990s, died Monday of heart failure at the age of 76.
Putin said Yeltsin will remain a symbol of changes in people's memory.
"He will forever remain a bright symbol of changes, a fighter against dilapidated dogmas and bans. Such personalities do not pass away. They continue to live in the people's ideas and aspirations, in the Motherland's successes and achievements," the Russian president said.
In December 2006, the post-Soviet Commonwealth of Independent States celebrated 15 years since the leaders of Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine signed an agreement December 8, 1991, declaring all Soviet republics independent and effectively abolishing the Soviet Union.
"Having become president thanks to the support of millions of the country's citizens, he changed the face of power, broke the blind wall between society and the state. And he loyally and courageously served his people," Putin said.
Putin said Yeltsin took responsibility for the toughest decisions on his shoulders.
"He never walked in the shadow or hid behind others' backs. Sometimes he deliberately drew the fire upon himself, taking personal responsibility for really tough but necessary decisions," the Russian leader said, alluding to the Chechen campaign.
Putin said Yeltsin realized that the main thing was irreversibility of reforms.
"Such political style and political flair distinguish national leaders who do not think in terms of one day but look very far forward," he said.
Boris Yeltsin's family, Russian high-ranking officials, foreign leaders and their representatives, overall about 500 people, attended the reception.
According to Russian religious tradition, kutya - rice with raisins and honey - and pancakes are served at the reception.
