Mikhail Gorbachev
Mikhail Gorbachev served as the President of the USSR from 1990 to 1991. In recognition of his outstanding services as a great reformer and world political leader who contributed greatly to the changing nature of world development, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990. Gorbachev’s actions created a big shift in international affairs. He contributed to a fundamental change in the international environment and played a prominent role in ending the Cold War, stopping the arms race, and eradicating the threat of nuclear war.
- Presidential term: 15 March 1990 – 25 December 1991
- Gorbachev is the Founding President of Green Cross International, established in response to the 1992 Rio Earth Summit call to create a “Red Cross for the environment”.
- A trained lawyer, he entered into politics at an early age.
- He initiated the process of change in the Soviet Union–what was later called perestroika, the fundamental transformation of the nation and society.
- The Congress of People’s Deputies of the USSR elected him President of the USSR on 15 March 1990.
- On 25 December 1991, after the dissolution of the USSR, Gorbachev stepped down as Head of State.