Overview
- Yuri Nikolaev, 76, was buried at Troekurovskoye Cemetery following a farewell ceremony in the cemetery’s Large Mourning Hall.
- Hundreds attended, including Channel One chief Konstantin Ernst, singer Pelageya, Valdis Pelsh, Alla Danko, Zara, Alexander Marshal, Leonid Yarmolnik and others.
- President Vladimir Putin sent a wreath, and a condolence telegram from Federation Council Deputy Chair Yuri Vorobyev praised Nikolaev’s inestimable contribution to domestic television.
- Ernst said shows such as Utrennaya pochta, Utrennyaya zvezda and Dostoyanie respubliki will remain part of Russian television history.
- Zara called him a kind and attentive figure viewers felt was family, while Pelageya credited him with spotting true talent early in her career; the ceremony ended with prolonged applause.