In office 15 March 1990 – 25 December 1991 Prime Minister Nikolai Ryzhkov Valentin Pavlov Ivan Silayev Vice President Gennady Yanayev Preceded by Andrei Gromyko Succeeded by Office abolished 6th General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union In office 11 March 1985 – 24 August 1991 Preceded by Konstantin Chernenko Succeeded by Vladimir Ivashko (Acting) Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union In office 1 October 1988 – 25 May 1989 Prime Minister Nikolai Tikhonov Nikolai Ryzhkov Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union In office 25 May 1989 – 15 March 1990 Preceded by Himself as Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet Succeeded by Anatoly Lukyanov as Parliament Speaker, himself as Head of State as President of the Soviet Union Member of Politburo In office 1980–1991 Born 2 March 1931 (1931-03-02) (age 80) Privolnoye, Stavropol Krai, Russian SFSR, USSR Birth name Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev Political party Communist Party of the Soviet Union (1950–1991) Social Democratic Party of Russia (2001–2004) Union of Social Democrats (2007–present) Independent Democratic Party of Russia (2008–present) Spouse(s) Raisa Gorbachova (d. 1999) Alma mater Moscow State University Profession Lawyer Religion See religious affiliation Signature Website The Gorbachev Foundation Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev (Russian: Михаил Сергеевич Горбачёв, tr. Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachyov, IPA: [mʲɪxɐˈil sʲɪrˈɡʲeɪəvʲɪtɕ ɡərbɐˈtɕof]  ( listen); born 2 March 1931) is a former Soviet statesman, having served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991, and as the last head of state of the USSR, having served from 1988 until its collapse in 1991..