Last President Of The Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev Wafat At The Age Of 91 Years

Former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev flanked by two bodyguards. (Wikimedia Commons/duma.gov.ru)

JAKARTA - The last president of the Soviet Union to end the Cold War without bloodshed, but failed to prevent the country from collapsing Mikhail Gorbachev, who died at the age of 91 on Tuesday, hospital officials in Moscow said.

"Mikhail Gorbachev passed away tonight after a serious and prolonged illness," the Russian Central Clinical Hospital said in a statement.

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his deepest condolences, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Interfax news agency.

"Tomorrow (today) he will send a telegram of condolences to his family and friends," he said.

Putin said in 2018 he would reverse the collapse of the Soviet Union if he could, the news agency reported at the time.

Born on his full name Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev on Privolnoye March 2, 1931, he is known for his two policies, Perestroika and Glasnot.

His political career reached its peak when he was lined up as Secretary General of the Communist Party in 1985-1991.

Gorbachev won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990.

The husband of Raisa Maximovna Gorbacheva and Irina Virganskaya's father served as President of the Soviet Union in 1990-1991.

The plan, he will be buried at Moscow's Novodevichy Cemetery next to his wife Raisa, who died in 1999, Tass said, citing the foundation founded by the former Soviet leader.