In Putin’s Russia, Last Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev Leaves Behind a Divisive Legacy

1998, when Russia was suffering from the financial hardships associated with the bumpy transition to a market economy following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the last Soviet leader Michael Gorbachev starred in a Pizza Hut commercial.

In the ad, an older Russian complains that Mr Gorbachev’s reforms helped create chaos and political instability, while a younger Russian responds that they have given Russia freedom and new opportunities. The ad concludes that at least everyone can agree that pizza brings people together.