Condolences on the passing of George Blake 2020-12-26 14:30:00 Vladimir Putin expressed condolences to George Blake’s family and friends. The message reads, in part: “Colonel Blake was an outstanding professional of special courage and life endurance. Throughout the years of his hard and strenuous efforts he made a truly invaluable contribution to ensuring the strategic parity and the preservation of peace on the planet. Our hearts will always cherish the warm memory of this legendary man.” George Blake, a legendary Soviet agent and former MI6 officer, died aged 98.