The message reads:

Please accept my sincere condolences on your bereavement following the passing of Valery Zolotukhin.

Your grief is shared by millions of people in Russia and abroad, everyone who knew and admired Mr Zolotukhin and was familiar with his work on stage and screen. He was a talented man with a powerful personality, and endowed his characters with a special charm and independent spirit.

Valery Zolotukhin's craft and his books have contributed greatly to contemporary Russian culture. The memory of this great master will live forever in the hearts of his colleagues, students and fans.

Dmitry Medvedev