Bright memory...

The Russian Geographical Society expresses condolences to families and relatives of those killed in the crash of Tu-154.

The tragedy occurred early this morning. The aircraft of the Ministry of Defense had been flying from Moscow to Syria. Tu-154 had made a brief landing at the «Adler» airport for refueling, and disappeared from radar screens a few minutes after take-off…

There were 92 people onboard: the artists of the Ensemble named after Alexandrov, TV crews of the following TV-channels: «Zvezda», NTV and the First channel, and the staff of the Ministry of Defense. They had been flying to Syria in order to congratulate the Russian soldiers, fighting against terrorists, a Happy New Year. There was Elizaveta Glinka amongst the passengers, she was also known as the Doctor Liza, a head of the «Fair Aid» charitable foundation, she had been carrying medicines.

The fragments of the aircraft were found in the Black Sea later, a few kilometers from the coast near Sochi. The search operation is being conducted at the site of the fall of the liner.

As the Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov said, the Minister of Defense of Russia Sergey Shoygu has been constantly reporting to the President information about the Tu-154 fallen into the Black Sea. According to the words of Peskov, the President was immediately informed about the fact that the aircraft had disappeared from radar screens, as soon as the tragedy became known.

The Russian Geographical Society expresses its condolences to the bereaved families and relatives, there were a lot of our colleagues and friends among the perished. And the Society together with the whole country mourns the untimely deceased.

Monday, the 26th of December, is announced the national day of mourning.