Will Egyptian scenario repeat in Russia?
"The political regime in Russia may end up according to the Egyptian scenario, even worse than that," former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev said in an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).
"If we waste time, if we don't resolutely defend our rights as citizens, if we don't create an effective parliament that is capable of controlling the executive branch, I think the chances of the Egypt scenario will increase in Russia," said Gorbachev.
Mikhail Gorbachev leveled some harsh criticism on Russia's ruling tandem of President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
"Just look at how the present leadership is formed. They select their acquaintances, people they studied with, their former neighbors who they played soccer with, people they messed around with and continue messing around with. That is the main thing - personal loyalty, acquaintanceship, friendly relations. I absolutely reject this approach," he said.
According to Mikhail Gorbachev, democratic problems are slowly settled in the country.
"Look at us. From the point of view of democracy, we have everything. We have a parliament; we have courts; we have a press. But the results are vanishingly few," Gorbachev said.
Speaking about Vladimir Putin's chances to be elected as Russian President in 2018, Gorbachev said, "I never said that. What is worth talking about is how the leaders of the country discuss the presidential elections among themselves. By the initiative of one or the other, they will discuss their futures among themselves. They say there will come a time when they will sit down and decide who will participate in the election.
This is shameful! I am ashamed of them. They aren't acting humbly. As if we have no society, no constitution, no system of elections, and so on. The two of them will decide. The duumvirate. And what about the 140 million of us out here? I've said many times -- I don't like this. They have already claimed they are the saviors of the country. But I think we are far from that."
