Last But Not Least

Among the many obituaries, eulogies and tributes published after Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev’s death at the end of August, it is worth quoting a short memoir by 6th FIDE President Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov, who was a lifetime friend of the late President of the Soviet Union:

Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov: “Gorbachev left a beautiful era full of happy hopes behind” Kirsan Today, August 31, 2022 Back in the 1990s, pictured, from left: Ilyumzhinov and Gorbachev. Photo: Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov. Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev died at [91] after a serious and long illness. Gorbachev was the last General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the only President of the Soviet Union. On December 25, 1991, in a televised address to the nation, he announced his resignation as Soviet President and Commander-in-Chief and signed a decree transferring to Russian President Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin control over strategic nuclear weapons. He left a beautiful era full of happy hopes behind. Mikhail Sergeevich was a great man, lively and bright. I had the great privilege of knowing him personally, enjoying his conversation and the deepness of his personality. He generously shared his knowledge — he loved people and always remained kind and user friendly. I am grateful to fate that I had the honour to live at the same time as Gorbachev, a man who tried to change the world for the better. Eternal memory to Mikhail Sergeyevich, and my deepest condolences to his family and friends. Pictured, from left: Ilyumzhinov, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), Gorbachev, and 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)’s mother, 王茜 (Wáng Qiàn), at the awarding ceremony of the 35th Women’s World Championship in Tirana, Albania on November 30, 2011. Photo: Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov.