Yevgeny Primakov, former Russian Prime Minister, has died

The former PM has remained an active player in Russian politics, recently carrying out a number of diplomatic missions under Vladimir Putin

Yevgeny Primakov, pictured here in 2007, has died ((Photo by ILMARS ZNOTINS/AFP/Getty Images))

Yevgeny Primakov, former Prime Minister of Russia has died aged 85.

Mr Primakov was a prominent Russian politician, serving in a number of key government positions and diplomatic roles during his long career. He served as Prime Minister between 1998 and 1999.

Born in what is now Ukraine, in 1929, Primakov studied Arabic and economics in Moscow before joining the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1959.

He initially worked as a journalist, specialising in Middle Eastern politics. In 1989 he formally entered Russian party politics.

Mr Primakov was appointed Prime Minister in September 1998 by President Boris Yeltsin. Pimakov lasted just eight months in the role, before being removed by Yeltsin who argued that he had failed to outline and deliver an adequate economic plan.

He remained an active player in Russian politics. In recent years, he has carried out a number of diplomatic missions under President Vladimir Putin.