Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has died at 91 Russian media reported his death, citing the hospital that was treating him as saying he died of a “serious and protracted disease,” without providing more information. Gorbachev’s trademark policies of glasnost and perestroika helped open up the Soviet economy and liberalize society in the late 1980s, confront its past and engage with Western leaders on arms control.
Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990, he was seen by many abroad, including President Ronald Reagan, as a visionary. But his legacy is complicated at home, where many viewed him as the man who engineered the collapse of the Soviet Union
He felt he belonged to a generation of children of World War II
He was born in 1931 in Privolnoye, a village in southern Russia. He was the son of peasants and knew how to operate farm equipment. He also knew the horror of war. In an interview with the Academy of Achievement years later, Gorbachev said watching the Nazis occupy his village as a boy shaped his life.
“This was all happening right in front of our eyes, the eyes of the children,” he said. “Thus, you see, I belong to the so-called children-of-the-war generation. The war left a heavy mark on us, a painful mark.
History of Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev was born in 1931 in the village of Privolnoe, Russia. He was the only child of Maria Panteleyeva and Nikolai Gorbachev, who worked as a combine harvester operator. Gorbachev’s father died in World War II, and his mother later remarried. Gorbachev was raised in the Soviet Communist tradition and received a law degree from Moscow State University in 1955.
Gorbachev’s political career began in the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU), where he held various positions over the years. In 1970, he was elected to the CPSU Central Committee, and in 1979, he became a member of the Politburo, the top decision-making body of the CPSU. In 1985, Gorbachev was elected General Secretary of the CPSU, and he began to implement his vision of reform within the Soviet Union.
Gorbachev’s reforms, which were known as perestroika (restructuring) and glasnost (openness), aimed to liberalize the Soviet Union and make it more responsive to the needs of its people. However, these reforms also led to increased tensions within the country, and in 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed. Gorbachev remained in office as President of the Russian Federation, but he was increasingly sidelined by the new Russian President, Boris Yeltsin. In December of 1991, Gorbachev resigned as President, and his political career came to an end.
Despite the collapse of the Soviet Union, Gorbachev’s legacy continues to shape Russian politics and society. His reforms helped to bring about the end of the Cold War, and he is still revered by many Russians as a symbol of hope and change.
Conclusion
Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union, died at the age of 91. He was responsible for many reforms which helped to demolish the Soviet Union. He was also known for his role in ending the Cold War. Many people have started to comment on the death of Mikhail Gorbachev on social media and other websites.
The world is mourning the death of Mikhail Gorbachev who was the last leader of the Soviet Union. Gorbachev helped to end the Cold War with the West, but he also led the Soviet Union into a period of economic stagnation. He was 91 years old. Read more about his life and death here.
The world is mourning the death of Mikhail Gorbachev who was the last leader of the Soviet Union. Gorbachev helped to end the Cold War with the West, but he also led the Soviet Union into a period of economic stagnation. He was 91 years old. Read more about his life and death here: http://time.com/5474356/mikhail-gorbachev-dead-russia-soviet-union-leader-obituary/
Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union, died at the age of 91. Gorbachev led the USSR from 1985 to 1991, when the Soviet Union dissolved. Gorbachev is most famous for implementing policies of glasnost and perestroika, which are credited with helping to end the Cold War. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 for his efforts to end the arms race between the Soviet Union and the United States. Gorbachev was a major figure in the collapse of the USSR. His role in the collapse is a matter of debate. Some historians believe that Gorbachev’s policies hastened the collapse of the USSR; others believe that the collapse would have happened regardless of Gorbachev’s policies.