Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev was born on 2 March 1931, in Privolnoïe, Stavropol Region of Northern Caucasus. He studied Law at Moscow University and later also received a degree in agricultural economics.

While at Moscow University, he became a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU). Soon after his return to his home city of Stavropol he was offered a position in the local Komsomol youth league. This started his political career, which brought him to Moscow in 1977 as Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee.

In 1985, he became General Secretary of the Central Committee, the first Party leader to be born after the October Revolution. Facing a new global economic and political context, he changed the Soviet Union’s domestic and international politics.

In foreign policy, he showed openness to dialogue, engaging world leaders in a broad and candid discussion. Throughout his mandate, he sought to improve political and economic relations with Europe and the United States, progressively reducing tensions resulting from the Cold War. In January 1986, Mr Gorbachev announced his readiness to eliminate medium range nuclear weapons in Europe and proposed a joint effort to abolish nuclear weapons by the year 2000. His arms reduction initiatives resulted in the signing of treaties on the elimination of INF missiles in 1987 and on 50 percent reduction of strategic offensive weapons in 1991.

Within the Soviet Union, Gorbachev’s reforms evolved from initial efforts to improve the existing system to a broad program of change affecting all areas of political, economic and social affairs. As part of this process, known by the Russian word perestroika, he introduced the concept of glasnost, meaning transparency of government and freedom of speech. The process of democratization led to the first free elections in Russia’s history, held in 1989. Mr. Gorbachev renounced the Brezhnev Doctrine and allowed the Eastern Bloc nations to freely determine their own internal affairs. Opposition to reforms from party and government bureaucracies led to the coup attempt against President Gorbachev in August 1991, which undermined his efforts to create a new union of former Soviet republics. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Mr Gorbachev presented his resignation on 25 December 1991.

During the years that followed, Mikhail Gorbachev remained active in Russian and international politics. He has been speaking out in favour of continuing the democratic process in Russia, for a Europe without dividing lines and a more just international economic system.

Mr. Gorbachev has been involved in a variety of political, environmental and charitable projects, including the Gorbachev Foundation (the International Foundation for Socio-economic and Political Studies) and the environmental NGO Green Cross International. For his “fundamental role in the peace process that characterizes today important parts of the international community” that he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990.