Boris Yeltsin's funeral held in Moscow

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia bid farewell to his first President Boris Yeltsin. After the religious service accompanied by tinkling of bells of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour the funeral procession with Yeltsin's body made for the Moscow's Novodevichy cemetery. B. Yeltsin's body was taken to the cemetery by Cadillac catafalque. But near the cemetery it was put on an artillery carriage decorated by flowers and colors of Russian State banner. An armored troop-carrier pulled the carriage, which was followed by the clergy, relatives and friends of the late President. A thrice-repeated volley was fired and Russia's state hymn was played in the cemetery.



Several thousands of people gathered near the Novodevichy cemetery to bid farewell to Boris Yeltsin. The chain of people stretched for 500 meters. Heads of a number of countries and international organizations arrived in Russia to attend the mourning ceremony. President Robert Kocharian headed the official delegation of Armenia.



Boris Yeltsin died untimely from heart failure on Monday, aged 76. April 25 is proclaimed a national mourning day in Russia.