Mikhail Gorbachev has died

> He might be able to salvage the Soviet Union into something else, but instead most of it turned into multiple heaps of dumpster fire...

Wasn't he essentially removed from power by Yeltsin -- who did so by breaking up the Soviet Union?

My history isn't that great. But my understanding is that Yeltsin was the president of Russia, while Gorbachev was leader of the Soviet Union. By breaking up the union, Yeltsin put Gorby out of a job and essentially became the leader.

(Please correct me if I'm wrong.)

Yes, this is accurate. But underneath these formalities, just as the parent mentioned, was a weak, gullible and incompetent man who lost control of the country and caused a lot of real pain (90s were hell on earth). He is widely despised by his own people now, despite all the official bs.