Teaching Comparative Government and Politics

Friday, February 10, 2012

Gorbachev is skeptical

The day before Putin published his analysis and remedies for Russia's political system, Mikhail Gorbachev expressed his doubt that Putin can succeed.

Gorbachev targets Putin

FORMER Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has said Vladimir Putin has exhausted himself as Russia's leader.

Mr Gorbachev, who called on Mr Putin to step down as protests against his rule grew in December, said the powerful Prime Minister could face a sustained popular uprising against his rule similar to those seen in Arab capitals.

"He has exhausted himself," Mr Gorbachev said during a lecture at a Moscow university. "If he does not overcome himself, change the way things are - and I think it will be difficult for him to do that - then everything will end up on city squares."…

Speaking to Russia's Dozhd (Rain) TV earlier this week, Mr Gorbachev, 81, said he did not foresee a violent crackdown on Russia's protesters, noting that Mr Putin and his advisers had too much to lose…

"It's the system that must be changed," Mr Gorbachev said on Dozhd.

Mr Putin and many of his closest advisers rose up through the Soviet system and its notorious secret services…

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Labels: elections, politics, Russia