Former head of Gazprom dies

The former head of "Gazprom," Rem Vyakhirev died today at the age of 79.

Rem Ivanovich Vyakhirev was born in the Kuibyshev region to a family of rural teachers. He graduated from the Kuibyshev Industrial Institute and later worked in "Kuybyshevneft," was Deputy and First Deputy Minister of the Gas Industry of the USSR, and the first deputy chairman of the state gas company "Gazprom".

Russian joint-stock company "Gazprom" was created on November 5, 1992 by Eltsin's presidential decree and by the decree of the Council of Ministers from February 17, 1993. Vyakhirev was appointed chairman of the "Gazprom" board.

Vyakhirev resigned as head of Gaxprom on May 30, 2001. His resignation is associated with the coming of Vladimir Putin to power.