Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev starts a visit to the Ireland tomorrow.
Mr Gorbachev will attend a series of events in Dublin, meeting President Mary McAleese and being granted freedom of the city, the Dublin city council said.
The man who led Russia through the most difficult days of his country's shift to democracy, will also be conferred with an honorary degree during his two-day trip.
On his arrival tomorrow he will travel to Trinity College to receive the honour before launching the new European Russian Trust.
Later, he will dine as a guest of the Government in Dublin Castle.
The following day he will be accompanied by Dublin's Lord Mayor, Mr Michael Mulcahy, as he visits members of the Russian community in the city.
After addressing the Institute of European Affairs and lunching with President McAleese he will be granted freedom of Dublin at a special ceremony.
Mr Mulcahy said: "This visit will help to cement relations between us as well as doing appropriate honour to a genuinely great man whose place in history is already secure."
PA