MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Fidel Castro, one of the world’s longest-serving leaders, died late Friday at the age of 90. His death was announced by his brother and the incumbent Cuban president, Raul Castro.
"Russia lost a great friend, he [Castro] personally did a lot for the development of relations between Cuba and the Soviet Union, Cuba and Russia. He remained committed to the principles of friendship, became part of our common history. We share your pain. For us it is a huge loss," Matvienko said during a meeting with Cuban ambassador to Russia Emilio Losada Garcia.
"It's a heroic person, an outstanding statesman and public figure, one of the most famous politicians in the world. He devoted all his life to his nation and its struggle for freedom and independence. Fidel Castro continued to work till his last day, his ideas and his legacy will serve for a long time," Matvienko said.
Garcia in his turn said that Castro was fond of Russia and advocated the development of the closest relations between Cuba and Russia.
Сastro was born in 1926 in the Cuban village of Biran. He became the country's prime minister in February 1959, and ruled Cuba as a single-party state until 2008, when his brother Raul Castro took over.
