Legendary Soviet satirist dies

MOSCOW: Mikhail Zhvanetsky, a legendary Russian satirist and stand-up comedian who ridiculed the absurdities of Soviet life and was known for his quietly subversive humour, died on Friday at the age of 86.

"You have left us forever," Russian pop diva Alla Pugacheva said on Instagram, announcing Zhvanetsky's passing. "My friend, you are unforgettable." The cause of death was not immediately announced.

Born in the city of Odessa in Soviet-era Ukraine and trained as an engineer, Zhvanetsky took up comedy in the 1960s and eventually became the Soviet Union's most beloved satirist.