Thousands of people said goodbye today in the Hall of Columns of the House of Trade Unions in Moscow from the last leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, who died Tuesday at the age of 91 in the Russian capital.

The room opened at 10:00 local time (07:00 GMT) and closed two hours later, but Russians patiently queued to enter to give their speeches. Last goodbye to Gorbachevwhose coffin with two guards of honor on each side is displayed in the Hall of Columns, reserved for famous figures.

For this reason, the funeral service, which had no state character, but with “some elements” such as a guard of honor, as confirmed by the Kremlin, was extended beyond what was scheduled.

It took two hours to enter the historic building to pay homage to “Gorbi” and to place roses and carnations in front of the coffin.

A powerful police device accompanies the approaching citizens Syndicated Housewith fences, security arches along the route.

Already at the entrance, there is a photo of the late politician with two guards of honor on each side.

On the first floor, in the Hall of Columns, a large picture of Gorbachev with various flower crowns in front of it.

Relatives of the deceased politician sit to the right of the coffin, behind which is a Russian flag with a black bow.

Several hundred residents passed by, both families with young children and teenagers and adults, both Russians and foreigners, according to Efe’s agent.

Russian President, Vladimir Putin excuses himself for “an agenda item”but the president said goodbye to Gorbachev on Thursday at the Moscow Central Clinical Hospital where the last Soviet leader died.

So far, the only foreign president to come to Moscow to say goodbye to someone considered to be one of the most important politicians of the 20th century in the West has been the ultranationalist Prime Minister of Hungary. Victor Orbin.

They also say goodbye to the father of perestroika US, UK and German Ambassadorsamong others.

Among the Russian figures who wished to pay homage to Gorbachev were Russian journalists Dmitry Murtovwinner of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize, and director of an independent newspaper Nvaya Gazetaclosed in Russia and which was discovered by the late politician.

Also passing through the House of Trade Unions was the leader of the party, head of the space agency Roscosmos, Yuri Borsovor defenders of the rights of employers, Bors Titov.

The last Soviet leader will be buried in the afternoon next to his wife, Rasa, who died in 1999, at the Novodvichi cemetery in Moscow.