The message says, in part:

“The death of Alexei German, a major film director, is a significant loss for all of Russian culture. Your grief is shared by millions of people in this country.

A brilliant professional and a talented, courageous and uncompromising man, Mr German always followed his own path both in art and in life. Above all he valued freedom of creativity. His specific cinematic language and honesty in addressing the dramatic pages of history made his films a thing of significance for generations of viewers.

“Mr German’s name and his brilliant and thought provoking films will remain forever in the cinema as well as in the hearts of viewers and all those who knew and valued him.”