MOSCOW, October 21. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed deep condolences over the tragic death of France’s oil giant Total CEO Christophe de Margerie in the plane crash.
The president’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said Putin knew de Margerie and had maintained close working contacts with him. The president highly valued de Margerie’s business qualities and his consistent commitment to the development of Russian-French relations and mutually beneficial cooperation on the whole, Peskov said.
Moscow also highly valued Margerie’s contribution to the development of the cultural dialogue and his support for various cultural projects, the press secretary said.
The Total chief enjoyed high respect among business people and politicians who named him as ‘big moustache’ in a friendly manner. Learning about the fatal incident French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said that the country had lost a remarkable businessman, a great captain of the industry and a patriot.
Christophe de Margerie has left three children after his death.
Business aviation Dassault Falcon’s jet crashed at Moscow airport Vnukovo late on Monday evening, leaving four people on board dead.