Nikolai Ryzhkov dies

Russian statesman, politician, and National Hero of Armenia Nikolai Ryzhkov has died. As RIA Novosti writes, Chair of the Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko said this.

In 1985–1991, Ryzhkov served as chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR. On Dec. 7, 1988, he was appointed chairman of a Politburo commission coordinating the elimination of the consequences of the Spitak earthquake.

In 2008, Ryzhkov was awarded the National Hero of Armenia.