TRIBUTES have been paid worldwide to former Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who has died at the age of 91.
Mr Gorbachev, who came to power in 1985, opened up the Soviet Union to the world and introduced a set of reforms at home.
However he wasn’t able to prevent the slow collapse of the Soviet Union, from which modern Russia emerged.
In a post on Twitter, Boris Johnson said he was “saddened” to hear of the former leader’s death, at a time of “Putin’s aggression in Ukraine”.
Johnson said: "I'm saddened to hear of the death of Gorbachev.
“I always admired the courage and integrity he showed in bringing the Cold War to a peaceful conclusion.
I'm saddened to hear of the death of Gorbachev. I always admired the courage & integrity he showed in bringing the Cold War to a peaceful conclusion. In a time of Putin’s aggression in Ukraine, his tireless commitment to opening up Soviet society remains an example to us all.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) August 30, 2022
“In a time of Putin’s aggression in Ukraine, his tireless commitment to opening up Soviet society remains an example to us all.”
Mr Gorbachev was the youngest member of the ruling council known as the Politburo when he became general secretary of the Soviet Communist Party, and de facto leader of the country, in 1985 at the age of 54.
The president of the European Commission praised the late politician’s legacy as “one we will not forget”.
In a post on social media, Ursula von der Leyen said: “He played a crucial role to end the Cold War and bring down the Iron Curtain.
“It opened the way for a free Europe.
“This legacy is one we will not forget. RIP Mikhail Gorbachev.”
He was awarded the 1990 Nobel Peace Prize for his role in ending the Cold War and spent his later years collecting accolades and awards from all corners of the world, although he was widely disliked in the country he used to lead.
Though in power less than seven years, Mr Gorbachev unleashed a breathtaking series of changes, but they quickly overtook him and resulted in the collapse of the authoritarian Soviet state, the freeing of eastern European nations from Russian domination and the end of decades of East-West nuclear confrontation.
Russia blamed Mr Gorbachev for the 1991 implosion of the Soviet Union. In his memoirs, he said he had long been frustrated that in a country with immense natural resources, tens of millions were living in poverty.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Gorbachev was “one of the great figures” of the last century who will “forever be remembered”.
One of the great figures of the 20th Century, Mikhail Gorbachev’s pursuit of reform forged a path for diplomacy over conflict. He will forever be remembered as the last leader of the Soviet Union who had the courage and conviction to end the Cold War.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) August 30, 2022
In a tweet, he said: “One of the great figures of the 20th century, Mikhail Gorbachev’s pursuit of reform forged a path for diplomacy over conflict.
“He will forever be remembered as the last leader of the Soviet Union who had the courage and conviction to end the Cold War.”
Actor and former bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger described Mr Gorbachev as “one of my heroes” and said he was “unbelievably lucky” to have called him a friend.
Former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger said the former Soviet leader “performed great services” but was “not able to implement all of his visions”.
He told BBC’s Newsnight: “The people of eastern Europe and the German people, and in the end the Russian people, owe him a great debt of gratitude for the inspiration, for the courage in coming forward with these ideas of freedom.”
Kissinger, who again added Mr Gorbachev was unable to implement his full vision, added: “He will still be remembered in history as a man who started historic transformations that were to the benefit of mankind and to the Russian people.”
