Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev passed away: played a key role in ending the Cold War; Was elected President of the Soviet Union in 1990

Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev passed away. Gorbachev, 91, had been ill for a long time. He had ended the Cold War without fighting, that is, he had ended the Cold War without any bloodshed. However, he could not stop the collapse of the Soviet Union. Mikhail was the 8th and last President of the Soviet Union.

Gorbachev was a highly influential leader of the Soviet Union. He was also awarded the Nobel Prize. Russian President Vladimir Putin has condoled his death. He will be cremated in Moscow today.

World leaders expressed grief

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said – I am saddened to hear about the death of Mikhail Gorbachev. The courage and integrity he displayed to end the Cold War are commendable.

French President Emmanuel Macron called him 'Man of Peace. He said- Mikhail showed the way to freedom to the Russians. His commitment to peace in Europe changed our history.

UN chief Antonio Guterres said - Gorbachev is a politician who changed history. He is to be commended for a peaceful end to the Cold War.

American leader and bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger also expressed grief over the death of Mikhail Gorbachev, tweeting a photo of himself with him. He wrote – There is an old saying, Never meet your heroes. I think this is the worst advice I've heard. Mikhail Gorbachev was my hero. It was an honor and a pleasure to meet him.

The collapse of the Soviet Union was a tragedy, Gorbachev was responsible for it

Gorbachev remained a controversial figure. His relations with Putin were not good. Putin considers the collapse of the Soviet Union a tragedy. Gorbachev has been held responsible for this. Many Russian leaders, along with Putin, believe that after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia weakened and its economy collapsed. At this time Russia was facing an economic crisis.

Nobel Prize is given in 1990

Gorbachev also supported the policy of glasnost i.e. freedom of expression. After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Gorbachev gave freedom to the Russian media and art world. He introduced many revolutionary reforms to loosen the hold of the Communist Party over the government. At the same time, thousands of political prisoners and critics of the communist regime were also released from prison. Gorbachev signed a nuclear disarmament agreement with the United States. He was also awarded the Nobel Prize in 1990 for peacefully ending the Cold War.

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