Putin: "Chávez – close friend of Russia."

Moscow hopes to see further development of Russia-Venezuela relations that will primarily depend on the people and government of Venezuela, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin told reporters in the Russian town of Vologda Thursday.

Putin called the late Venezuelan leader Chávez an “outstanding leader” and “a close friend of Russia” and added that Chávez did everything to save the people of Venezuela from poverty and need, Voice of Russia reports.