We all sincerely loved him: Putin called Keosayan a true patriot of Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed condolences over the death of director and TV presenter, Honored Artist of Russia Tigran Keosayan. The corresponding telegram was published on the official Kremlin portal.

"Please accept my deep condolences in this difficult hour in connection with the death of Tigran Edmondovich Keosayan. I sincerely share the great grief that has befallen you," the head of state addressed the director's mother Laura Gevorgyan and his wife, RT editor—in-chief Margarita Simonyan.

Putin called Keosayan an outstanding director, screenwriter, actor, bright creative, extraordinarily talented, wise and charming man, "whom we all sincerely loved."

"Tigran Edmondovich devoted himself to the service of art, worked with full dedication, was open and always friendly to colleagues and numerous admirers of his unique talent. He did a lot to preserve and develop the best traditions of the national cinema, enriched the cultural life of the country with bright, original works. Tigran Edmondovich's creative work reflected the spirit and mood of the time in which he lived," the President stressed.

Putin also expressed confidence that the bright memory of him will forever remain in the hearts of relatives, friends and colleagues of Keosayan, all who "knew this strong-minded man and a true patriot of Russia."

As reported by EADaily, Keosayan died on September 26, he was 59 years old. Since January, he has been in a coma, as he experienced clinical death.

Earlier, Simonyan reported that everyone close to the family knows about the director's sick heart, he suffered two heart attacks — in 2008 and 2010.