Russian Sports Minister Mikhail Degtjarev tells the Russian state news agency Tass that Saitiev's death was "too early and tragic". He describes him as one of the best freestyle wrestlers in history and praises his "invaluable" contributions to the sport.
The death was announced on Sunday that he had died in Moscow. An official cause of death has not yet been made public.
According to Russian media, he died at a hospital in Moscow due to cardiac arrest, reports Expressen. He is said to have been poisoned by medications he took to treat a lung disease.
Buvajsar Saitiev ended his career in 2009 and was later a member of parliament in the State Duma.
He was 49 years old.
