Glasnost, which translates to "openness" in English, was General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev's policy for a new, open policy in the Soviet Union where people could freely express their opinions.
With glasnost, Soviet citizens no longer had to worry about neighbors, friends, and acquaintances turning them in to the KGB for whispering something that could be construed as criticism of the government or its leaders. They no longer had to worry about arrest and exile for a negative thought against the State. Glasnost opened the door for the Soviet people to reexamine their history, voice their opinions on governmental policies, and receive news not pre-approved by the government.
See also: Perestroika
