Putin’s tribute to Mahatma Gandhipublished at 08:01 GMT
Sandro Gvindadze
BBC Monitoring journalist
Earlier in the day, Putin visited Rajghat, Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial, where he left a short note in the visitor’s book, describing him as “one of the founders of the Indian state, the great philosopher and humanist”.
His “ideas about freedom, virtue and humanitarianism remain relevant to this day,” he wrote.
“Gandhi essentially anticipated the new, more just multipolar world order that is currently taking shape,” Putin noted.
“In his letters to [Russian author] Leo Tolstoy, he reflected extensively on the future of the world – one free from dictates and hegemony, built on principles of equality, mutual respect and cooperation among nations.
“And these are precisely the principles and values that Russia and India are defending together on the international stage today,” the message read.