MOSCOW — Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union, who helped end the Cold War and played a pivotal role in bringing about major changes in his country, has died, Russian state media reported Tuesday. He was 91.
According to the Central Clinical Hospital in Moscow, Gorbachev died after a long and serious illness. No further details were immediately available.
Gorbachev, who came to power in 1985, is widely regarded as one of the most significant figures of the 20th century. Under his leadership, the Soviet Union underwent a period of significant political and economic reforms known as glasnost and perestroika, which ultimately led to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Born in 1931 in the village of Privolnoye in southern Russia, Gorbachev rose through the ranks of the Communist Party, eventually becoming General Secretary in 1985. He quickly emerged as a reformist leader, recognizing the need for change in the Soviet Union. He introduced glasnost, or openness, which allowed for greater freedom of speech and press, and perestroika, or restructuring, aimed at modernizing the Soviet economy and political system.
Gorbachev’s reforms had a profound impact on the Soviet Union and the world. Glasnost led to increased public criticism of the government and the Communist Party, while perestroika resulted in the introduction of market reforms and the privatization of state-owned enterprises. These changes weakened the Communist Party’s grip on power and contributed to growing demands for political and economic liberalization.
In foreign policy, Gorbachev pursued a policy of détente with the United States, seeking to reduce tensions between the two superpowers. He met with U.S. President Ronald Reagan on several occasions, and the two leaders signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 1987, eliminating an entire class of nuclear missiles. Gorbachev also played a key role in the reunification of Germany in 1990, agreeing to the withdrawal of Soviet troops from East Germany.
Gorbachev’s reforms ultimately proved too ambitious and met with resistance from hardliners within the Communist Party and the Soviet establishment. In 1991, a failed coup attempt against Gorbachev by conservative elements within the government led to the collapse of the Soviet Union. Gorbachev resigned as president in December 1991, and the Soviet Union formally dissolved on December 26, 1991.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Gorbachev remained active in public life. He established the Gorbachev Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting social and economic development in Russia and around the world. He also wrote several books on his experiences as leader of the Soviet Union and on the challenges facing Russia in the post-Soviet era.
Gorbachev’s legacy is complex and controversial. He is widely admired for his role in ending the Cold War and for his efforts to reform the Soviet Union. However, he is also criticized for his handling of the Soviet economy and for his failure to prevent the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Despite the controversies surrounding his legacy, Gorbachev remains a significant figure in world history. His reforms had a profound impact on the Soviet Union and the world, and his vision of a more open and democratic society continues to inspire people around the globe.
In recent years, Gorbachev had been in declining health. He was hospitalized in June 2022 for an undisclosed illness and had been receiving treatment ever since. His death marks the end of an era and the passing of one of the most influential figures of the 20th century..
