٠٠:٠٣:٠٤Mikhail Gorbachev’s former interpreter, Pavel Palazhchenko, spoke about his experiences working with the former Soviet leader, describing him as an 'open, warm' man, who 'understood dignity', during an interview in Moscow on Wednesday.
"He is a very authentic person. The way he looked and acted publicly was the way he was. … He was open, he was warm, he knew how to talk to people, he understood dignity and he always respected people with different views. And he was always ready to listen to people who were sometimes very different from him both ideologically and in other ways. But at the same time, he preserved his own authenticity, his convictions, his views," the interpreter shared.
Palazhchenko said he had a 'more personal relationship' with the president after his resignation, and even then Gorbachev 'continued to try to make a difference both for our country and for the world'.
"I worked with him because of my convictions, because I believed that our country was in a place that needed change, that needed radical change. And I felt that Gorbachev was the person who could initiate and implement that change. As I was working with him, of course, my impression evolved and I saw that he was really trying both to change the country’s position in the world, [and] to end the Cold War," Palazhchenko said.
The interpreter claimed that the whole world has appreciated the former Soviet leader, and 'for Russians it’s important to come to a proper appreciation of Gorbachev'.
Gorbachev passed away on Tuesday at the age of 91.
He implemented several reforms aimed at liberalising the economy and public life, after becoming the leader of the Soviet Union in 1985.
During his time in office, he saw the fall of the Berlin Wall, brought the Cold War to an end, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990.
He resigned at the end of 1991, triggering the break-up of the Soviet Union.
Russia: Gorbachev was open, warm, and with sense of dignity - Ex-president's former interpreter
Mikhail Gorbachev’s former interpreter, Pavel Palazhchenko, spoke about his experiences working with the former Soviet leader, describing him as an 'open, warm' man, who 'understood dignity', during an interview in Moscow on Wednesday.
"He is a very authentic person. The way he looked and acted publicly was the way he was. … He was open, he was warm, he knew how to talk to people, he understood dignity and he always respected people with different views. And he was always ready to listen to people who were sometimes very different from him both ideologically and in other ways. But at the same time, he preserved his own authenticity, his convictions, his views," the interpreter shared.
Palazhchenko said he had a 'more personal relationship' with the president after his resignation, and even then Gorbachev 'continued to try to make a difference both for our country and for the world'.
"I worked with him because of my convictions, because I believed that our country was in a place that needed change, that needed radical change. And I felt that Gorbachev was the person who could initiate and implement that change. As I was working with him, of course, my impression evolved and I saw that he was really trying both to change the country’s position in the world, [and] to end the Cold War," Palazhchenko said.
The interpreter claimed that the whole world has appreciated the former Soviet leader, and 'for Russians it’s important to come to a proper appreciation of Gorbachev'.
Gorbachev passed away on Tuesday at the age of 91.
He implemented several reforms aimed at liberalising the economy and public life, after becoming the leader of the Soviet Union in 1985.
During his time in office, he saw the fall of the Berlin Wall, brought the Cold War to an end, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990.
He resigned at the end of 1991, triggering the break-up of the Soviet Union.
Mikhail Gorbachev’s former interpreter, Pavel Palazhchenko, spoke about his experiences working with the former Soviet leader, describing him as an 'open, warm' man, who 'understood dignity', during an interview in Moscow on Wednesday.
"He is a very authentic person. The way he looked and acted publicly was the way he was. … He was open, he was warm, he knew how to talk to people, he understood dignity and he always respected people with different views. And he was always ready to listen to people who were sometimes very different from him both ideologically and in other ways. But at the same time, he preserved his own authenticity, his convictions, his views," the interpreter shared.
Palazhchenko said he had a 'more personal relationship' with the president after his resignation, and even then Gorbachev 'continued to try to make a difference both for our country and for the world'.
"I worked with him because of my convictions, because I believed that our country was in a place that needed change, that needed radical change. And I felt that Gorbachev was the person who could initiate and implement that change. As I was working with him, of course, my impression evolved and I saw that he was really trying both to change the country’s position in the world, [and] to end the Cold War," Palazhchenko said.
The interpreter claimed that the whole world has appreciated the former Soviet leader, and 'for Russians it’s important to come to a proper appreciation of Gorbachev'.
Gorbachev passed away on Tuesday at the age of 91.
He implemented several reforms aimed at liberalising the economy and public life, after becoming the leader of the Soviet Union in 1985.
During his time in office, he saw the fall of the Berlin Wall, brought the Cold War to an end, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990.
He resigned at the end of 1991, triggering the break-up of the Soviet Union.