Gorbachev Slams Russia's 'Sham Democracy'

Former Soviet states should unite, he suggests

(NEWSER) - Europe has squandered two decades of potential cooperation since the Berlin Wall fell, Mikhail Gorbachev says. At a Moscow event sponsored by his foundation, the former Soviet leader criticized Western leaders who viewed the 1989 event as their victory over Eastern Europe, rather than an opportunity for common good, Reuters reports. More»

He writes critical op-ed on 25th anniversary of perestroika

(NEWSER) - Mikhail Gorbachev warns that Russia is in danger of backsliding into the dark days of the Soviet Union in a critical op-ed piece that seems aimed directly at Vladimir Putin. The country's parliament is no better than a rubber stamp, its courts lack independence, and there's still no real party system. "There is a growing feeling that the government is afraid of civil society and would like to control everything," Gorbachev writes on the 25th anniversary of his perestroika reforms. More»

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama began his second day in Russia by meeting with Vladimir Putin at the president-turned-prime minister's country home outside Moscow. The two leaders both expressed a desire for improved relations, and observers said they had a cordial discussion. The president then addressed a Moscow economics university, where he told students that the US and Russia are not "destined to be antagonists." More»

Russian PM says he may succeed Medvedev in 2012

(NEWSER) - Vladimir Putin dropped his strongest hint yet last night that he may seek to return to his country's top job in 2012. In an interview with Japanese media, Russia's president-turned-PM said there was no decision yet on whether he or Dmitry Medvedev would run for president at the end of Medvedev's term. Putin said the two would decide together. More»

Western powers must tread lightly in Georgia, ex-Soviet prez warns

(NEWSER) - The situation in Georgia dates to at least 1991, when the government slapped a lid on South Ossetia, setting off a "time bomb," Mikhail Gorbachev writes in the Washington Post. The ex-Soviet president outlines his vision for regional stability. "In addition to patience, this situation requires wisdom," he writes, calling on regional leaders to "devote their efforts to building the groundwork for durable peace." More»