Mikhail Gorbachev dead aged 91 – Leader of Soviet Union during Cold War & Chernobyl disaster dies after illness

THE former Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev has died at the age of 91. Mr Gorbachev was the final leader of the communist regime and became head of state in 1988 and its president in March 1990. The Mega AgencyPresident Mikhail Gorbachev, seen here in 1990, has died at the age of 91[/caption] His death was announced by the Interfax news agency. He became known for his sweeping reforms, ‘glasnost’, moving away from hardline communist ideology. Mr Gobachev was widely praised for his part in ending the Cold War with the West. Gorbachev, the last Soviet president, forged arms reduction deals with the United States and partnerships with Western powers to remove the Iron Curtain that had divided Europe since World War Two and bring about the reunification of Germany. When pro-democracy protests swept across the Soviet bloc nations of communist Eastern Europe in 1989, he refrained from using force – unlike previous Kremlin leaders who had sent tanks to crush uprisings in Hungary in 1956 and Czechoslovakia in 1968. But the protests fuelled aspirations for autonomy in the 15 republics of the Soviet Union, which disintegrated over the next two years in chaotic fashion. Gorbachev struggled in vain to prevent that collapse. On becoming general secretary of the Soviet Communist Party in 1985, aged just 54, he had set out to revitalise the system by introducing limited political and economic freedoms, but his reforms spun out of control. His policy of ‘glasnost’ – free speech – allowed previously unthinkable criticism of the party and the state, but also emboldened nationalists who began to press for independence in the Baltic republics of Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and elsewhere. Many Russians never forgave Gorbachev for the turbulence that his reforms unleashed, considering the subsequent plunge in their living standards too high a price to pay for democracy. After visiting Gorbachev in hospital on June 30, liberal economist Ruslan Grinberg told the armed forces news outlet Zvezda: “He gave us all freedom – but we don’t know what to do with it.” Most read in News STAR TRAGEDY Star of DC series Black Lightning dies after ‘sudden illness’ aged 32 LOTTO LOVE I broke up with girlfriend MONTHS before her family won £61m EuroMillions prize FLEEING LIKE RATS Moment Russian troops ‘flee frontline’ as Ukraine vows to drive them back DEADLY SMASH Two dead and four others including kids rushed to hospital after horror crash 'MY HEART' Girlfriend of rapper shares pic of baby bump after he was killed at carnival BANGED UP ABROAD Brit woman arrested for smuggling 'ten kilos of cocaine' through airport