Last Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev dies aged 91 - BBC News

Mikhail Gorbachev, the former Soviet leader who brought the Cold War to a peaceful end, has died aged 91.

Mr Gorbachev, who took power in 1985, opened up the Soviet Union to the world and introduced a set of reforms at home.

But he was unable to prevent the slow collapse of the Soviet Union, from which modern Russia emerged.

Tributes have been paid worldwide, with UN chief António Guterres saying he "changed the course of history". US President Joe Biden called him a "rare leader".

However, many Russians never forgave their former leader for the turmoil that followed the collapse of the USSR.