“We know that the main ceremonies will be held on September 3, as well as the funeral, but the president’s schedule will not allow him to attend,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
He explained that Putin had previously gone to the hospital, where Gorbachev died in Moscow, “to put flowers near his coffin,” according to Agence France-Presse.
Peskov indicated that there will be “official funeral elements” during Gorbachev’s funeral, especially the participation of the “honour guard”, and that this will be organized “with the help of the state.”“.
Gorbachev died on Tuesday evening “after a long struggle with a serious illness,” according to the Russian presidential hospital, where he was being treated..
Gorbachev, who came to power in 1985, is highly respected in Western countries, while some Russians blame him for his contribution to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Gorbachev was the last surviving leader of the now-revered Cold War era, since Putin’s decision to launch the military campaign against Ukraine on February 24..
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