MOSCOW, November 26. /TASS/. Cuba, under the leadership of Fidel Castro, gained freedom, independence and established the modern statehood, strengthening its authority in Latin America, Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said in a telegram following reports about Fidel Castro’s death.

"The life of Comandante Fidel Castro was devoted to serving the Fatherland… I would like to stress his major personal input in development of friendly, partner, brotherly relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Cuba. We shall remember the memory about this outstanding person and a true friend of this country," the telegram reads.

9-day mourning has been announced in Cuba.

The historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, the founder and leader of the first socialist country in the Western hemisphere - Cuba - Fidel Castro died on Friday late afternoon at the age of 90. The body would be cremated as Fidel had wished, President Raul Castro said.