The Russian leader known for initiating the policy of perestroika is Mikhail Gorbachev. Serving as the General Secretary of the Communist Party from 1985 to 1991, Gorbachev recognized the need for significant reforms in the Soviet Union. Perestroika, meaning "restructuring," aimed to revitalize the faltering economy and open up the political system. It was accompanied by another policy, glasnost, which promoted greater transparency and freedom of expression. These reforms ultimately led to a reduction in government control, sparking political change and dissent, and played a critical role in the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.