Russia: Farewell to Actor Oleg Yankovsky · Global Voices
Veronica Khokhlova

Renowned Russian actor Oleg Yankovsky died in Moscow at the age of 65 on May 20 and was buried at Novodevichy Cemetery two days later. Thousands of fans came to the Lenkom Theater to bid farewell to him. LJ user drugoi re-posted AP photos from the memorial event, and LJ user leosat wrote this (RUS) about it:
Half an hour ago, they carried the coffin out and took the body away for a requiem service. I didn't make it inside the building to say good-bye. Even those who were there by 11 AM did not make it. There were lots of people, and two hours is too little. At 1:15 PM, it was no longer possible for the people to bid farewell to their beloved [actor]. The crowd didn't grow smaller until the body was carried out. Along with others, I passed the flowers with those who were inside the cordoned-off area. There was a lively ovation, as during all the plays he had been in. Today, the applause sounded twice. The first time, when [Nikolay Karachentsov, another famous actor, who was severely injured in a 2005 car accident] came to say good-bye. I guess this was appropriate. I shed a tear when the coffin was carried out: he remains deep within us all and it's impossible to associate his image with death. Loving memory to him!
Here is one of the comments to this post – and the blogger's reply:
seaseas:
Thank you […] for going there and for writing…
leosat:
I was there for you, too. In general, I don't go to such events often. Was at [Boris Yeltsyn‘s farewell ceremony] – and today…