Kazakh honour guards stand next to the coffin of Col. Boris Kerimbayev, 72, Soviet Army officer and famous commander of a special forces unit, who against fought during Soviet war in Afghanistan, in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Russia prepares to mark 30th anniversary of the Soviet Union's withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan in 1989, ending the Soviet war in Afghanistan that many now see as a necessary and largely successful endeavour.

14.02.2019#5782596

Kazakhstan's veterans and former Soviet Army officers arrive for the funeral of their comrade Col. Boris Kerimbayev, 72, former Soviet Army officer and famous commander of a special forces unit, who fought during Soviet war in Afghanistan, in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Russia and other former Soviet republics prepare to mark 30th anniversary of the Soviet Union's withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan in 1989, ending the Soviet war in Afghanistan that many now see as a necessary and largely successful endeavour.

14.02.2019#5782574

Kazakhstan's soldiers hold photographs of Col. Boris Kerimbayev, 72, former Soviet Army officer and famous commander of a special forces unit, who fought during Soviet war in Afghanistan, during his funeral in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Russia and other former Soviet republics prepare to mark 30th anniversary of the Soviet Union's withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan in 1989, ending the Soviet war in Afghanistan that many now see as a necessary and largely successful endeavour.

14.02.2019#5782575

People arrive for the funeral of Col. Boris Kerimbayev, 72, former Soviet Army officer and famous commander of a special forces unit, who fought during Soviet war in Afghanistan, in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Russia and other former Soviet republics prepare to mark 30th anniversary of the Soviet Union's withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan in 1989, ending the Soviet war in Afghanistan that many now see as a necessary and largely successful endeavour.

14.02.2019#5782572

Kazakhstan's honour guards hold medals belonging to Col. Boris Kerimbayev, 72, former Soviet Army officer and famous commander of a special forces unit, who fought during Soviet war in Afghanistan, during his funeral in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Russia and other former Soviet republics prepare to mark 30th anniversary of the Soviet Union's withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan in 1989, ending the Soviet war in Afghanistan that many now see as a necessary and largely successful endeavour.

14.02.2019#5782573

Kazakhstan's honour guards stand next to the coffin of Col. Boris Kerimbayev, 72, former Soviet Army officer and famous commander of a special forces unit, who fought during Soviet war in Afghanistan, in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Russia and other former Soviet republics prepare to mark 30th anniversary of the Soviet Union's withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan in 1989, ending the Soviet war in Afghanistan that many now see as a necessary and largely successful endeavour.

14.02.2019#5782567