Death and Funeral of Mikhail Gorbachev: A Tragicomedy
The death and funeral of Mikhail Gorbachev, former leader of the Soviet Union, was a tragicomedy of international proportions. Known for his policy of glasnost and perestroika, Gorbachev was a towering figure in world politics who oversaw the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War. But his death and funeral were an affair to remember, for all the wrong reasons.
The Death of a Giant
Mikhail Gorbachev, fondly referred to as “Gorby” by his admirers, passed away at the age of 90 due to natural causes. The news of his death was met with shock and sadness around the world, and leaders from different countries expressed their condolences. But soon, things took a turn for the absurd.
The Funeral Fiasco
The Russian government announced that Gorbachev would be given a state funeral, a tribute reserved for the most esteemed leaders. However, the preparations for the funeral were shoddily executed, leading to one embarrassing situation after another.
Firstly, the stage setup collapsed while Russian President Vladimir Putin was giving a eulogy, nearly injuring him. Then, the pallbearers carrying the casket stumbled and dropped it during the procession, causing Gorbachev’s body to roll out and hit the ground. As if that wasn’t enough, a gust of wind blew over the flowers meant for the funeral, scattering them all over the mourners.
To add insult to injury, the microphone at the funeral kept malfunctioning, making it impossible for people to hear the speeches. Some attendees even claimed that they heard a strange buzzing sound coming from the speakers, which made it seem like Gorbachev’s ghost was haunting the event.
Conspiracy Theories Galore
The farcical funeral proceedings gave birth to a slew of conspiracy theories. Some believed that Gorbachev’s death was a hoax and that the real reason behind his disappearance was something more sinister. Others speculated that Putin, who is often accused of being behind the sudden deaths of his political enemies, had something to do with Gorbachev’s demise.
In any case, the death and the funeral of Mikhail Gorbachev will go down in history as a tragicomedy of epic proportions. From collapsed stages to rolling caskets, the series of mishaps that marred the funeral was both hilarious and sad. As Gorby himself would have said, “Perestroika must continue!”