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Thousands of mourners paid respect to Russian cellist and political activist MSTISLAV ROSTROPOVICH today (29Apr07) in a packed funeral service at Christ the Saviour cathedral in Moscow.
Rostropovich, an outspoken supporter of Soviet dissidents, died on Friday (27Apr07) from intestinal cancer at the age of 80.
Among those who attended the ceremony was Russian President Vladimir Putin, who hailed Rostropovich "a brilliant cellist and gifted conductor" and "a firm defender of human rights".
The cellist was later buried alongside some of Russia’s best-known cultural and political figures in the Novodevichye cemetery - the same place former president Boris Yeltsin was laid to rest on Wednesday (25Apr07).
Rostropovich is survived by his wife, soprano singer Galina Vishnevskaya, and two daughters.

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