TEHRAN-In separate messages, Milyausha Aytuganova, the executive director of the Kazan International Film Festival, and Amrit Gangar, Indian film scholar and historian, expressed their condolences for the passing of Iranian President Ayatollah Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian along and accompanying delegation in a tragic helicopter crash in the northwest of the country on Sunday.

Aytuganova, who served as a judge in the international section of the 17th Iran International Documentary Film Festival “Cinema Verite,” conveyed her sympathy for the loss, and said, “I am saddened by this loss and I extend my heartfelt condolences to the people of Iran for this bitter event,” Mehr reported.

Gangar, also a film critic and university professor who served as a jury member at Iran’s 7th Cinema Verite also expressed solidarity with the people of Iran and the documentary filmmaking community.

“Your country faced an unexpected tragedy with the loss of the President and his delegation. I offer my condolences and hope that difficulties come to an end. No one knows how death arrives; may God grant peace to him and other souls who have departed,” his message read.

SS/