Putin pays tribute to late USSR leader, Gorbachev

President Vladimir Putin of Russia on Wednesday paid tribute to the last leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR), Mikhail Gorbachev, who died on Tuesday evening at the age of 91 years. The Russian president celebrated Gorbachev as leader that has influence on the course of world history.

The president in a statement on Wednesday, declared: “Gorbachev was a politician and statesman who had a tremendous influence on the course of world history.

“Gorbachev led the country to a time of “dramatic change” and recognised the great need for reform at the time.

“I would like to particularly emphasise the great humanitarian, charitable and educational activity that Mikhail Sergeevitch Gorbachev carried out all these past years.”

Gorbachev midwifed the disintegration of the Soviet Union into several independent countries, including Ukraine, where there have been military operations by the Putin administration.