HANOVER, Germany — Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev said Prime Minister Vladimir Putin shouldn't seek a third term as president as the country struggles to develop democratic institutions.
Members of Putin's inner circle, many from his hometown of St. Petersburg, have sought to centralize power to protect their own interests, Gorbachev said this week in an interview. Some have even advocated dictatorship, he said in Hanover, where he attended a forum on improving German-Russian relations.
"If you try to do everything in the country without taking the people into account, while imitating democracy, that will lead to a situation like in Africa where leaders sit and rule for 20 or 30 years," Gorbachev said. "The Petersburg project in Russia is over. It has run its course."
Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev have left open the possibility that they may run for the top job next year. The next president may serve until 2024 after the term was increased to six years.
"It would be better" if Putin chose not to seek a return to the Kremlin, Gorbachev said. "If I were in his place, I wouldn't run for president."
Medvedev, a one-time law professor, has had a difficult presidency because he came to power with limited experience in government, Gorbachev said.
As president, Medvedev should have spoken out about policies that reduced democracy, such as the elimination of direct elections for regional governors and single-seat districts for the lower house of parliament, Gorbachev said. Both changes were implemented during Putin's presidency.
"More than anything else, I'm worried about our electoral system, how they're whittling it away," he said. "It reminds me of when we were in school and there was the joke about someone balancing an uneven chair by slightly sawing down one leg and then another until there are no legs left."
Russia will continue on its path toward democracy as a new generation replaces "the worst, most amoral, most cynical" generation trained by the Soviet system, Gorbachev said. "Democracy needs democratization everywhere, the world over, and that's difficult."
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
