The famous Russian leader who initiated the policy of Perestroika in the 1980s was Mikhail Gorbachev. He became the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1985 and introduced Perestroika, which translates to "restructuring," in an effort to reform the stagnant Soviet economy. Alongside Perestroika, he also implemented Glastnost, or "openness," which encouraged greater transparency and freedom of expression within the Soviet Union. Gorbachev's policies aimed to revitalize the economy and make the political system more flexible. Though ultimately leading to significant changes, including the end of the Soviet Union in 1991, Gorbachev's reforms met with mixed reactions and challenges throughout their implementation.