Now playing Next Russia From perestroika to Putin, the life of Mikhail Gorbachev in pictures As the eighth and final Soviet president is to be interred in Moscow on Saturday, these are some of the key moments in his life and career. 03/09/2022
Now playing Next Europe Decoded Video: Why Lithuania didn't join the tributes to Mikhail Gorbachev While Western Europe praised the last Soviet leader, the Baltic country was openly critical about his legacy. 01/09/2022
Now playing Next Russia 'Man of peace': How has Europe reacted to Gorbachev's death? Tributes have flooded in from across Europe, but there has been a more muted reaction in Russia. 31/08/2022
Now playing Next Russia Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev dies at 91 The eighth and final leader of the Soviet Union died at a Moscow hospital where he was admitted for treatment, Russian media reported Tuesday night. 30/08/2022
Now playing Next Belarus Belarus' first president Stanislav Shushkevich dies aged 87 Shushkevich is best known for informing Mikhail Gorbachev about the end of the Soviet Union and leading Belarus to independence. 04/05/2022
Now playing Next Lithuania Lithuanians accuse ex-Soviet leader Gorbachev of war crimes The former Soviet leader is accused of ordering an attack on Vilnius in January 1991, which killed 14 people. 13/01/2022
Now playing Next Russia It's 30 years since the collapse of the Soviet Union The USSR was formally dissolved on 26 December 1991. 24/12/2021
Now playing Next Uncovering Europe Mikhail Gorbachev tried to get Russia on the wagon. He failed Mikhail Gorbachev is remembered for dismantling the USSR and bringing about the end of Communism in the Soviet Union, but when he took power in 1985 his ambitions were far less radical. 23/12/2021
Now playing Next Uncovering Europe It's 30 years since the failed coup to oust Soviet leader Gorbachev The world held its breath 30 years ago when a group of senior Communist officials attempted to oust Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and flooded Moscow with tanks. The August coup collapsed after just three days and precipitated the breakup of the Soviet Union. 19/08/2021
Now playing Next Russia Mikhail Gorbachev, last Soviet leader, turns 90 in quarantine Gorbachev, who is widely credited with ending the Cold War, was very popular in the West, but a much more polarising figure within Russia. 02/03/2021
Now playing Next Germany German reunification: Thirty years on, is the job done? Less than a year after the Berlin Wall came down, Germany was a united country again. 03/10/2020
Now playing Next Russia Twenty five years ago the USSR collapsed It’s 1991 and President Mikhail Gorbachev has brought in Perestroika, a set of reforms to the Soviet system but he’s still trying to keep Communism alive. 18/08/2016
Now playing Next world news How the fall of the Berlin Wall was seen in Russia “Mr Gorbachev, open this gate…” This famous invitation from US President Ronald Reagan was extended beside the Berlin Wall in June 1987, appealing 03/11/2014
Now playing Next World Gorbachev reflects on course of modern Russia You might think 20 years after the demise of the Soviet Union the then-leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, would surely be relegated to the cast of political 08/03/2012
Now playing Next World Gorbachev urges Putin to usher in reforms Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev says Russian president-elect Vladimir Putin will have to make democratic reforms in the face of opposition 08/03/2012