Putin praises Castro as 'symbol of an era'

12:57 - 26 November 2016

Then Cuban President Fidel Castro (R) welcomes Russian President Vladimir Putin to Jose Marti Airport in Havana on December 13, 2000

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 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."