Prime Minister Narendra Modi today wished fast recovery from COVID-19 to his Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin, who was found infected with the highly infectious coronavirus on Thursday.
In a televised meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Mr Mishustin said he has to “observe self-isolation” to protect his colleagues, suggesting a temporary acting Prime Minister for Russia.
“My best wishes to Russian PM Mishustin for early recovery and good health. We stand with our close friend Russia in efforts to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic. @GovernmentRF,” PM Modi tweeted this morning.
My best wishes to Russian PM Mishustin for early recovery and good health. We stand with our close friend Russia in efforts to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic. @GovernmentRF
Mr Putin swiftly signed a decree appointing First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov as a temporary replacement.
The Russian President assured Mr Mishustin that contracting COVID-19 “can happen to anyone” and that no major decisions would be taken without his input, news agency AFP reported. “I hope that you stay able to work,” Mr Putin told Mr Mishustin, who is the highest Russian official to become infected.
Mr Putin has not held any face-to-face meetings for weeks, according to the Kremlin website, and was last shown in the same room as Mr Mishustin on March 24.
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