The highest echelons of Russian dignitaries have been paying tribute to the late President Boris Yeltsin, who died a year ago today.

They went to the Novodevichy cemetery in Moscow, where a monument was unveiled to the man who made sure that the old Soviet Union was buried. His actions infuriated some, and delighted others. The man who succeeded him, President Vladimir Putin paid tribute saying: "It's been a year since since Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin died. He was the first president of Russia, and one of the most brilliant politicians of the 20th century. He had enormous influence, not only on the development of our country, but on the course of world history."