Putin will not attend Mikhail Gorbachev funeral: Kremlin

President Putin has spent much of his decades-long rule reversing parts of Gorbachev's legacy

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the funeral of the last Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev due to scheduling issues, his spokesman said on Thursday. 

"The farewell ceremony and funeral will take place on September 3 but unfortunately the president's work schedule will not allow him (to attend)," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.