President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a condolence message to her Russian counterpart, His Excellency Mr. Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, following the death of at least ninety-two persons, who were on board a Russian military aircraft that crashed into the Black Sea on Christmas Day.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, President Sirleaf, in her message to H. E. Mr. Putin, expressed her deep sorrow for the tragic event, which occurred on Sunday, December 25, 2016.

On board the Tupolev Tu-154 aircraft were 64 musicians from the world’s famous Alexandrov Ensemble, including its conductor, Lt.-Gen. Valery Khalilov; director of the department of culture for the Russian ministry of defense, Anton Gubankov; head of the Spravedlivaya Pomoshch charity, Elizaveta Glinka; seven other soldiers of the Russian army, nine reporters, two federal civil servants; and eight crew members. All lost their lives in the tragic accident.

“On behalf of the Government and people of Liberia, and in my own name, I extend profound condolences to Your Excellency and the people of Russia, particularly, the families of the victims for the irreparable loss sustained by this tragedy,” the Liberian leader indicated in her message.

She informed President Putin that the loss was not only the Russian Federation’s but the whole of humanity.

As President Sirleaf assured Mr. Putin that people of Liberia are in solidarity with the people of Russia, she is confident that God Almighty will console him and his compatriots during this difficult time of national mourning.