The death has taken place of Yegor Gaidar, the architect of the market reforms that helped cement Russia's transition from Communism. He was 53.
Mr Gaidar, an economist who became late president Boris Yeltsin's reform commissar, provoked awe and antipathy for freeing prices in 1992 before the dust had settled on the ruins of the Soviet Union.
Mr Gaidar's reforms - dubbed 'shock therapy' - devalued the savings of millions of Russians and gave a handful of oligarchs their chance to grab the assets of a former superpower on the cheap.
The reforms, though painful for millions, helped Russia's post-Soviet transition and supporters say the reforms lay the foundation for the 10-year economic boom from 1999-2008.
A spokeswoman confirmed Mr Gaidar had died but gave no further details. Interfax news agency quoted a police source as saying he had died from a blood clot.
Mr Gaidar was born in Moscow on March 19th, 1956. He graduated in economics from Moscow State University in 1978.
Since leaving politics, he remained very influential behind the scenes, offering informal advice to Vladimir Putin on a range of economic issues.
Reuters