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Gorbachev in November 2014 in Berlin – on the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Wall
Photo:
Target Press Agency Gmbh / Getty Images
The Russian Nobel Peace Prize winner and former Soviet head of state Mikhail Gorbachev is dead. He died in Moscow on Tuesday evening at the age of 91.
The world-renowned politician was considered one of the fathers of German unity and a pioneer for the end of the Cold War.
Politicians around the world reacted to the news of his death.
Russian President
Vladimir Putin
has expressed his deepest sympathy for Gorbachev's death, according to a spokesman.
Putin will send the family a telegram on Wednesday morning, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced, according to the Russian news agency Interfax.
The head of the Russian Court of Accounts,
Alexej Kudrin
, explained to Telegram that the "author of a new way of thinking" had died, who at the time enabled the country and the world to breathe again.
The prominent liberal Russian opposition politician
Grigory Yavlinsky
praised Gorbachev as a changer of the world.
“Gorbachev gave us freedom.
He gave freedom to millions of people - in Russia and its surroundings and in half of Europe," wrote the founder of the opposition party Yabloko on Telegram.
It is still the responsibility of the Russians today to use the freedom they were given back then, Jawlinski said.
"In his six years in power, Mikhail Gorbachev changed the world."
UN Secretary-General
António Guterres
called Gorbachev a "unique statesman" who changed the course of history.
"He did more than anyone else to bring the Cold War to a peaceful end."
EU Commission President
Ursula von der Leyen
emphasized the importance of Gorbachev for Europe.
"He played a crucial role in ending the Cold War and the fall of the Iron Curtain," she wrote on Twitter.
And described Gorbachev as a leader who was reliable and respected.
»He paved the way for a free Europe.
We will never forget this legacy.«
French President
Emmanuel Macron
praised Gorbachev on Twitter as a “man of peace whose decisions opened the way to freedom for the Russians”.
Macron added: "His commitment to peace in Europe has changed our common history."
British Prime Minister
Boris Johnson
wrote on Twitter that he had always admired Gorbachev's courage and integrity.
"At a time of Putin's aggression in Ukraine, his tireless commitment to opening up Soviet society remains a role model for all of us."
Bundestag Vice-President
Katrin Göring-Eckardt
(Greens) declared that without Gorbachev "the peaceful revolutions in the countries of the Eastern bloc, in our country, would not have been conceivable."
And: »His words encouraged us, made me strong.«
CDU leader
Friedrich Merz
wrote on Twitter: "The CDU mourns the loss of a statesman whom Germany could trust and who trusted us." Without him, "German unity in freedom" would not have been possible.
Former CDU leader
Armin Laschet
asked on Twitter: “Can a single person change the world?” And answer himself: “Yes.
He can.
No violence, no tanks, withdrawal of 350,000 Soviet soldiers from Germany.
Freedom for millions in Central-Eastern Europe.
German unity.
Unthinkable without Mikhail Gorbachev.«
Health Minister
Karl Lauterbach
quoted Laschet's tweet and agreed "unreservedly" with the CDU politician.
»I still remember the first portrait I read about Gorbachev, in 1987. From the beginning it was clear that he could make the world a better place.
He succeeded,” wrote the SPD politician.
Germany owes a lot to Gorbachev, Federal Education Minister
Bettina Stark-Watzinger
(FDP) also wrote on Twitter.
»He ushered in the end of the Cold War, enabled Germany's reunification and gave his country a democratic momentum.
A brave man of conviction whose voice will be missed.«
Federal Minister of Agriculture
Cem Özdemir
(Greens) made a similar statement and added: »His death is depressing.
Even more so at this time.
Thank you & #RIP.« Green politician
Jürgen Trittin
tweeted: »I bow to a great politician of peace.«
aar/dpa