Joining his political peers that have long pre-deceased him that he worked with to bring more peace to the world. Under his efforts, family and friends got reunited and the world rested a lot easier. He forever changed Russia and the world. Very grateful to him.
From what I see in Russian socials, 80-90% hate him with a passion (funny enough, mostly people who were either born after he left the scene or were toddlers during his time in the office). While 10-20% acknowledge that, while definitely not perfect, he accomplished a lot and ending USSR that was about to collapse violently in a fairly peaceful manner should be a credit to the man. He had a vision of Russia becoming a reasonably "normal" Western-like society. It is unfortunate that he wished for the impossible. Impossible for all kinds of reasons.
Spent 2 years in Germany before the wall came down. I can still remember Reagans demand. "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall"
No, not really. I watch Russia all the time (having been born in it). Unfortunately it never was (and, I suspect, never will be) a reasonably normal Western-like country. Not before Feb 24th and definitely not after.
Have you been there recently, that is recently, prior to Feb. 24? Anyway, when I was last there (left SPb on Feb. 7th), the biggest thing was the QR codes for covid (I didn't have one, obviously, since I'm not a Russian citizen, but I was still able to get into my favorite Irish bar there). Don't know much about after, except what I've seen on the news, etc. And I don't talk to my GF about it, because I'm trying to follow their rules, however awful.