reactions
Politicians pay tribute to Gorbachev
“A brave man of conviction whose voice will be missed”
“He paved the way for a free Europe”: Politicians mourn the death of the former President of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev (archive photo from 1989)
© Boris Yurchenko/AP/DPA
They mourn the loss of a “statesman”, a “man of convictions” and a “great politician of peace”: numerous politicians pay tribute to the late Mikhail Gorbachev. The reactions.
Several politicians paid tribute to Russian Nobel Peace Prize winner and former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev shortly after his death became known:
Without Gorbachev, “the peaceful revolutions in the countries of the Eastern Bloc would not have been conceivable here,” wrote the Bundestag Vice President Katrin Goering-Eckardt (Greens) on Tuesday evening on Twitter. “His words have encouraged us, made me strong.”
Germany owes a lot to Gorbachev, wrote Federal Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger (FDP) also 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”.
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.
US President Joe Biden called Gorbachev a “man with exceptional foresight”. With glasnost and perestroika, he pushed through democratic reforms in Russia “after decades of brutal political repression.” In cooperation with Biden’s predecessor Ronald Reagan, he said he met the “prayers for an end to the nuclear arms race” when disarming the nuclear arsenal.
Green politician Jürgen Trittin tweeted: “I salute a great politician of peace Michael #Gorbachev RIP”.
The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson praised Gorbachev’s “courage and integrity” that he had shown at the end of the Cold War. Especially with regard to the Russian attack in Ukraine, his efforts to open up Soviet society are remarkable.
French President Emanuel Macron named the deceased in a tweet a “man of peace” who opened a path of freedom for Russia.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted the importance of the former Soviet leader for Europe. “He played a crucial role in ending the Cold War and the fall of the Iron Curtain,” von der Leyen wrote on Twitter on Tuesday evening. She described Gorbachev as a leader who was reliable and respected. “He paved the way for a free Europe. We will never forget this legacy.” Gorbachev died in Moscow on Tuesday evening at the age of 91.
According to a spokesman, Russian President Vladimir Putin also expressed his deepest sympathy for the death of Mikhail Gorbachev. Putin will send the family a telegram on Wednesday morning, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced on Tuesday evening in Moscow.
Former Soviet leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Gorbachev died on Tuesday at the age of 91.