Kremlin: Putin Won’t Attend Gorbachev’s Funeral Due to ‘Planning Issues’

The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin would not attend the funeral of the last Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, on Saturday due to schedule issues.

During a meeting with journalists, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that on Thursday morning, Putin paid his respects and visited the Moscow Central Clinical Hospital, where Gorbachev died on Tuesday, laying a wreath.

“Unfortunately, the president’s work schedule doesn’t allow him to do that on September 3, so he decided to do it today,” Peskov said. said.

He added that Gorbachev’s funeral will feature “elements” of a state funeral, including an honor guard, and that the state is helping to organize it.