Putin pays his final respects at funeral of Russian film director turned politician Stanislav Govorukhin who ran his 2012 presidential campaign

  • Vladimir Putin today attended the funeral of prominent Russian film director turned politician Stanislav Govorukhin, who died earlier this week, aged 82
  • Govorukhin ran Putin's 2012 presidential campaign and made many iconic films
  • Putin called him a 'bright an extraordinary' talent and laid flowers on his coffin 

By BRIDIE PEARSON-JONES FOR MAILONLINE

Published: | Updated:

Vladimir Putin today attended the funeral of prominent Russian film director turned politician Stanislav Govorukhin, who died earlier this week, aged 82.

The Russian President paid his last respects to the film maker, who led his 2012 re-election campaign, at the Church of Transfiguration of Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

On Thursday he sent his condolences to Govorukhin's family, praising him as a 'bright and extraordinary' talent.

ladimir Putin paying his last respects to Russian film director and State Duma member Stanislav Govorukhin

ladimir Putin paying his last respects to Russian film director and State Duma member Stanislav Govorukhin

Putin offers his condolences to Govorukhin's widow Galina at a mourning ceremony for Russian film director and State Duma member Stanislav Govorukhin

Putin offers his condolences to Govorukhin's widow Galina at a mourning ceremony for Russian film director and State Duma member Stanislav Govorukhin

Stanislav Govorukhin arriving to the presentation ceremony of state awards marking the Day of Russia in the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia, on June 12, 2015

Stanislav Govorukhin arriving to the presentation ceremony of state awards marking the Day of Russia in the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia, on June 12, 2015

Putin laid flowers on the coffin and expressed his condolences to the director's widow Galina Govorukhina.       

Govorukhin sat in the lower houses of parliament, State Duma, where he was the Chairman of the Culture committee.

Govorukhin's early work included a 1967 film about romantic mountaineers that reflected the spirit of the 1960s political thaw.

His most famous production was 'The Meeting Place Can't Be Changed,' a 1979 police saga set in the late 1940s, full of strong characters and dark humor.

Govorukhin also acted, famously playing a crime lord in the 1987 cult film, 'Assa.'

He had a fruitful political career in the 2000s, serving as a lawmaker and directing Putin's successful presidential campaign in 2012. 

Vladimir Putin awards Russian film director Stanislav Govorukhin with an Order of Merit for the Fatherland

Vladimir Putin awards Russian film director Stanislav Govorukhin with an Order of Merit for the Fatherland

Putin sits with Govorkhin's widow Galina at the mourning ceremony for the politician and filmmaker

Putin sits with Govorkhin's widow Galina at the mourning ceremony for the politician and filmmaker

Putin speaks to his adviser's late wife at the funeral in Moscow

Putin speaks to his adviser's late wife at the funeral in Moscow

Putin (C) paying his last respects to Russian film director and State Duma member Stanislav Govorukhin at the Church of Transfiguration of Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Savior

Putin (C) paying his last respects to Russian film director and State Duma member Stanislav Govorukhin at the Church of Transfiguration of Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Savior

Who is Stanislav Govorukhin?

Stanislav Govorukhin, a prominent Russian film director who made some of the nation's most iconic movies, has died. He was 82.

He was an actor, celebrated film director, screenwriter and political figure.

He is well known in Russia for making some of the nation's most iconic movies, but later in life he took to politics.

At the time of his death he was a deputy in the State Duma, the lower chamber of Russian parliament,  from the United Russia Party.

Born in the Urals in 1936, as a young man he worked in television in Kazan and later moved to Moscow to study filmmaking.

In the late Soviet period he was one of the most renowned makers of TV, including the 'The Meeting Place Can't Be Changed (1979) and 'Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn' (1981).

After the break up of the USSR, he went into politics and even ran for President (but got less than one percent of the vote).

He sat in the State Duma, Russia's lower houses of parliament,  since 1993.

In 2012,  Govorukhin was appointed the head of Putin's re-election campaign.

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