Yury Skokov, the first secretary of the Russian Federation's Security Council and once a close adviser to former President Boris Yeltsin, died in Moscow on Tuesday morning at age 75.
Skokov, who in 1992-93 headed the Security Council, a national security presidential advisory body, and later lobbied for the military industrial complex, died from heart failure at his home, his aide Tatyana Yakovleva told Interfax.
A military engineer by training, Skokov was known for his role as a mediator in the conflict between Georgia and its breakaway republic of Abkhazia in 1992.
In 1995, he became a political ally of the Congress of Russian Communities party, led by Dmitry Rogozin, now a deputy prime minister.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.