Funeral of Gorbachev, who passed away on the 30th of last month, strictly observed in Moscow
Kremlin Palace, damaged by confirmation of whether it is the head of state… Contrast with the coat of arms during Yeltsin
The funeral of the late former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev was held in Moscow, Russia on the 3rd (local time).
According to the AP, AFP and Archyde.com, the funeral of former President Gorbachev, which was held at the ‘House of Union’ Pillar Hall in downtown Moscow from 10 a.m. on the same day, drew thousands of mourners to give his final farewell to the deceased.
The mourners expressed their condolences by placing roses and bouquets of flowers in front of the coffin where the body of former President Gorbachev was placed.
Irina, the only daughter of the deceased, and two granddaughters stayed by her side.
Foreign media reported that even before the funeral began, the number of mourners continued to form a long line outside the building.
The deceased passed away on the 30th of last month at the age of 91 after a long battle with diabetes and heart disease.
Former President Gorbachev dies next to his wife Laisa at the Novodevich Cemetery after a funeral that will last until this afternoon.
Laisa died 23 years ago, in 1999, of leukemia.
Former President Gorbachev is regarded as a key figure in removing the Iron Curtain and ending the Cold War peacefully.
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 for his contributions to the post-Cold War era, but was criticized in Korea for being a traitor who brought about the downfall of the former Soviet Union.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who came to power in May 2000, called the collapse of the Soviet Union by Gorbachev “the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century”.
The Russian government has been ambiguous as to whether the funeral of former President Gorbachev was a state funeral.
Kremlin spokeswoman Dmitry Peskov replied only that “some elements of the coat of arms will be included” and that “the state will help prepare the funeral.”
The last non-bureaucratic funeral among Russian leaders was in 1971 for Nikita Khrushchev, CNN reported.
Putin did not attend the funeral.
“President Putin will not be able to attend due to his work schedule,” Peskov said.
Prior to that, on the 1st, Putin personally visited the Moscow Central Clinical Hospital where Gorbachev’s mortuary is located and made a wreath.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has shown pro-Russian behavior, attended the funeral.
Ambassadors of the United States, Britain and Germany also appeared.
The Associated Press pointed out that the modest funeral of former President Gorbachev contrasts with Putin’s funeral and declaration of national mourning at the time of the death of former President Boris Yeltsin in 2007.
/yunhap news