Mikhail Gorbachev, the former president of the Soviet Union died on Tuesday. He was ill for a long time. He breathed his last at the age of 91. Russian news agency Sputnik quoted a statement from the Central Clinical Hospital as saying that he died after a prolonged illness. Russian President Putin has expressed grief over his death. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said President Putin expressed grief over Gorbachev’s death.
Mikhail Gorbachev was the last leader of the United Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. He wanted to reform the communist regime on the lines of democratic principles by giving freedom to the citizens. In 1989, when pro-democracy protests in the Soviet Union in communist Eastern Europe intensified, Gorbachev refrained from using force. He recognized the policy of Glasnost. Gorbachev also started a program of economic reform called Perestroika. Cultural freedom was given to the press and the artistic community during his time.
After leaving the presidency, Gorbachev received many awards and honours around the world. He also received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990.
After the breakup of the Soviet Union, Gorbachev had to resign from the presidency. Although he said many times that he did not want the Soviet Union to disintegrate at all. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, Gorbachev again contested in Russia, but he suffered a tremendous defeat, he finished seventh in the presidential election. He later became a fierce critic of Putin.
