PUTIN: MANDELA IS ONE OF THE MOST EMINENT POLITICIANS OF OUR TIME

Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday is among many world leaders who paid tribute to late Nelson Mandela.

In a Kremlin statement President Putin portrayed Mandela as "one of the most eminent political figures of modern times," saying "the former president of South Africa was inextricably linked with a whole era in Africa's modern history that ended with victory over apartheid and the establishment of democracy".

"Mr. Mandela traversed great hardships and trials, but remained true to the noble ideals of humanism and justice right to the end," President Putin added.