NB BUREAU
Mikhail Gorbachev, who ended cold but failed to prevent the collapse of Soviet Union, died Tuesday at the age of 91.
The Central Clinical Hospital in Moscow said in a statement that Gorbachev died after a long illness. No other details were given.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a statement carried by Russian news agencies that Russian President Vladimir Putin offered deep condolences over Gorbachev’s death and would send an official telegram to Gorbachev’s family in the morning.
Gorbachev won 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. Yet he was widely despised at home.
Russians blamed him for the 1991 implosion of the Soviet Union.
His run for president in 1996 was a national joke, as he polled less than 1% of the vote.
Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev was born March 2, 1931, in the village of Privolnoye in southern Russia.
Gorbachev is survived by a daughter, Irina, and two granddaughters.
Russia’s official news agency Tass reported that Gorbachev will be buried at Moscow’s Novodevichy cemetery next to his wife.
(With inputs from media reports)
