Mikhail Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin Speak out Against Putin’s Reforms

mosnews.com ^ | 9/16/2004 | Staff

[Luis Gonzalez]

Soviet Union’s last president Mikhail Gorbachev and Russia’s first president Boris Yeltsin expressed criticism regarding Vladimir Putin’s proposed reforms in Russian electoral system. Statements by Yeltsin and Gorbachev were made in exclusive interviews to Moskovskie Novosti (The Moscow News) weekly, and will be published in that newspaper’s Friday issue. MosNews, which is a partner publication of Moskovskie Novosti, posted full translation of both statements on our website on Thursday.

Our common goal is to do everything possible to make sure that bills, which, in essence, mean a step back from democracy, don’t come into force as law. I hope that the politicians, voters, and the president himself keep the democratic freedoms that were so hard to obtain, — reads Mikhail Gorbachev’s statement. Soviet Union’s last president, who ruled the country from 1985 to 1992, is convinced that Russian authorities “must search for political solutions, negotiate with the middle-of-the-road militants, separating them from the unappeasable extremists”.

His successor Boris Yeltsin, whose second presidential term ended on December 31, 1999, with a surprise announcement of his voluntary resignation (Vladimir Putin was named acting president three months before actually getting elected in March 2000), calls on the Kremlin to refrain from undermining the existing constitutional framework, despite the necessity of fighting terrorist threats.

I firmly believe that the measures that the country’s leadership will undertake after Beslan will remain within the framework of democratic freedoms that have become Russia’s most valuable achievement over the past decade. We will not give up on the letter of the law, and most importantly, the spirit of the Constitution our country had voted for at the public referendum in 1993. If only because the stifling of freedom and the curtailing of democratic rights is a victory by the terrorists. Only a democratic country can successfully resist terrorism and count on standing shoulder to shoulder with all of the world’s civilized countries, — Yeltsin says in his statement.

Boris Yeltsin’s statement is viewed as a surprise move by many observers in Moscow. Unlike Mikhail Gorbachev, who is still active on Russian political scene, Yeltsin chose to refrain from public comments about Vladimir Putin’s politics ever since his retirement. Recently Boris Berezovsky, an exiled tycoon, renowned for his criticisms of Kremlin and Putin, published an open letter to Russia’s first president, urging Yeltsin to speak up and reminding him of his responsibility for the establishment of Russian constitutional democracy. Yeltsin makes no mention of Berezovsky’s call in his statement, but some observers tend to link his decision to break silence with the exiled oligarch’s request.

[CWOJackson]

You folks do not want to miss #297. We've finally gotten down to the root of the matter: "Russian men are very much real men, btw."

That explains a lot.

[MarMema]

It sure seems to have bothered you so I won't elaborate too much.

It is a quality found in most Slavic cultures, actually, and undoubtedly is about how boys are raised in primarily Orthodox cultures. There have been books written which touched on the topic.

this might help you out

[Luis Gonzalez]

There is no equivalency between the Patriot Act and what Putin is doing, one is to the other what cannibalism is to Sushi. And it's not so much that I believe about a "moral equivalence" between Islam and Christianity, but rather how each is practiced by individuals.

I don't like the way that Muslim extremists practice Islam, yet I have no problem with the way Islam is practiced by non-extremists. I have Muslim neighbors, have worked with Muslims in the past, and there are hundreds of millions of Muslims in the world who have never committed an act of terror, so I have no problem with them, nor with the way they practice their religion.

In other words, practice whatever you want, but don't kill me as a result of it.

Are you now going to "correct" my beliefs?

[Luis Gonzalez]

"Luis Gonzalez left us with a devastating rebuttal (see Post #227) and hasn't been back since."

It's called "sleeping because I have to work in the morning".

It struck me as I lay in bed, that you guys are Himmler and Goebbels reincarnated.

[keats5]

"I strongly urge Europe to encourage Putin to withdraw his recommendation for Krelim appointed Governors."

I agree with your concern, but not with your method. I don't want Europe to start telling Putin what to do, because I don't trust Europe either.

Still, I also want Putin to reverse this power grabbing recommendation. The Governors have been elected before this. Now Putin wants to appoint them himself. This is a huge move away from democracy, and gives the central government the opportunity to do what Russian leaders have done so well in the past- take over the entire government.

I know the school slaughter was awful. But if we forget history and let Putin have his way, there will be more slaughters, not less. Putin can fight terrorism without denying the regional people their elelctions. We do./p>

[Androcles]

Thanks! Sorry for the delay in responding - work called.

It's depressing to see how many can't separate the idea that a cause may be just despite the inhumanity of those who endorse it using the methods of evil men.

You won't convince most of the posters here. The crime perpetuated at Beslan is of such evil that pausing to think about the factors behind it seems like a sellout to them - the truth is that all of CHechenya is no more responsible or supportive of the Beslan atrocity than those in America who favour a limited federal government were supportive or responsible for the Oklahoma bombing.

A similar example is Ireland. I support Ireland's unification under the IRish republic and always have. Yet although I oppose Britain's presence, I've always condemened the methods of groups like the Real IRA and supported the moderates. Until the majority of Northern Ireland (And to me that means sixty percent plus) accepts non-British rule and is willing to accept it then I don't believe the British should leave. Better to take an extra decade or more than to set the stage for more atrocities and evils such as the troubles gave us.

It's the choice between moderate and evil methods that distinguishes the great folk of history and the fanatics!

GOod luck!

[Androcles]

Putin has been maneuvering things for some years now to this moment when he has an excuse to destroy the new Russian government and restore his beloved Soviet empire.

How cynical. The worthy Mr Putin is simply putting the important and recently won freedoms of Russia up high and safe so they can't get dented or damaged during a tussle. I'm sure he'll give them back when the time is right...

[Androcles]

The chechens were given independence twice, and each time they blew it.

Yeah right. The Chechens declared independence and the resulting war with Russia left them victorious but their country smashed, That isn't blowing it.

The resulting chaos that reuslted led to several years of weak leadership and proviuded an excuse for the second Russian invasion. They didn't blow it.

Your claims are like saying the Israelis are responsible for all wars in the area since 48 simply because they agreed to deals that didn't work. It takes two to make a peace. It takes one to make a fight. I have many problems with Chechenya such as who would be in their power structeures, but Russia can't simply evade the responsibility for the horrors they have unleashed.

[Androcles]

Blair also banned all gun ownership....and is of the LABOUR party.........

And is America's major ally in Iraq.

At most he is a regional dicator of a local power with ambitions near his borders but not beyond them - or are you saying Putin goes on to re-spread Red revolution around the world like the USSR did?

For a country like America, the best case is to treat Putin types and Iran types as friendly and be effusive but watch them like hawks and prepare for the worst while expecting the worst. A superpower cannot relax their vigilance. They must scrutinise everyone and their contingency plans should be thorough even if it borders on the ludicrous (*ie British marines occupying NY).

[Androcles]

I never looked at those sites at the time and I don't need to to know that anyone hosting and linking to such sites is evil.

HOwever, I do recall the old trick as demonstrated on a number of occasions that the best way of preventing rebellion is by running the resistance yourself, thus allowing you to keep tabs on it, pick off the leaders and discredit them the moment you want!

Videos such as these are one clear area where we need an international non-partisan group whose only job is to identify where such dodgy vids were shot/made, etc. Then to hand over to appropriat authority for punishment and Highlight publically whether acions resulted.

[Androcles]

Interesting post. Cheers!

[Androcles]

Stonefury has made many points worthy of discussion and rebuttal. You on the otherhand seem obsessed with a pro-Putin view that is as blind in it's fervour as those who adored the Naxi-Soviet alliance in the early days of WW2 were to the inevitable outcome.

Churches are being opened and restored and Putin strongly supports Christianity. This is not the Soviet Union. This is an attempt to control corruption which led to children being hurt and killed.

Putin strongly supports anything which resonates strongly enough with the populace to bolster his regime. I backed him in the early years too. I still respect Putin as an individual for his talents, but in tne same way I respected Stalin. Both were strong men who had great dreams. That doesn't mean we should help to realise their dreams however!

[Destro]

At least you are not like Luis Gonzales and CWO Jackson -preaching that Putin really is a communist about to return the USSR and the Red Revoluton onto the world scene and the fall of the USSR was really a KGB trick - or are you? :)

[DoctorMichael]

The first word that comes to mind after reading this is SUBTERFUGE.

[Androcles]

At least you are not like Luis Gonzales and CWO Jackson -preaching that Putin really is a communist about to return the USSR and the Red Revoluton onto the world scene and the fall of the USSR was really a KGB trick - or are you? :)

Well, I don't think so. I think Putin is an intelligent, able and skilful man who has greatly dissapointed many who thought he might be the man to restroe Russia to greatness.

Whatever his personal beliefs, I think its plain that Putin cares less about Coimmunism/Capitalism, etc than he does about a secure power base and unchallengeable position. I can't blame him but I can mourn Russia's lost opportunity...


Anyway, off to bed. Will be AWOL for at leasst twelve hours...

[Valin]

You left out the invasions into southern Russia, like Buddenovsk.

If you look you'll see I did say A short simple Timeline.
As for me my point is Russia is not and hasn't been pure as the driven snow in regards to Chechnya or this region in general.
And their are those of us who don't see Putin as the George Washington of the new Russia.

[Destro]

Putin is not G. Washington - nor is he Stalin, Lenin or Ivan the Terrible. DeGaulle? Maybe for now? A future Pinochet or Franco? Maybe. That would not be too bad at all, I recon.

[Valin]

Whatever his personal beliefs, I think its plain that Putin cares less about Coimmunism/Capitalism, etc than he does about a secure power base and unchallengeable position...and a return to a non-Communist Russian empire.

[Valin]

The problem is, power is VERY addictive and hard to give up once you've got it.
I hope you'er right...but I remain skeptical.

FYI As I posted earlier if you can pick up a copy of Sept issue of the American Spectator, as they have a couple of pieces on Putin and the new Russia.
Ben Steins Diary is particularly good also.

[Destro]

I don't disagree.

But that does not negate Russia's righteous position in Chechnya. I support the Russian cause even though the execution of the war is sloppy.

And those that hold this as the new USSR are in fantasy land.

Chechnya in the modern Russia was never denied any rights and had autonomy. The reasons for revolt - Wilsonian ethnic based state as a rationale for independence is a discredited position. Since no rights were denied the Chechens - they had no claim to wage a war of independence. Past grievances are no justification either.