Gorbachev laments Russian rollback on democracy
"The electoral system has been revised to serve the interests of a single party, the interests of those who are now at the helm," he said. "Step by step, we have been going back to the past."
Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev harshly criticised Russia's political system today, saying that the nation's leaders have steadily rolled back the democratic achievements of his rule.
Gorbachev accused Russia's current government of trying to consolidate its grip on power and stifle opposition voices, but avoided specific mention of President Dmitry Medvedev or his predecessor Vladimir Putin, who is now Prime Minister.
"We have seen the step-by-step monopolization of political activities," Gorbachev said at a conference marking the 20th anniversary of the first democratically elected Soviet Parliament.
The Congress of People's Deputies, which convened in May 1989, served as the main arena for fierce political battles between supporters and enemies of Gorbachev's reforms. Live broadcasts of its stormy sessions attracted public attention, contrasting sharply with sedate meetings of today's Kremlin-controlled parliament.
Gorbachev says Russia's tightly orchestrated politics now evoke the Soviet era, when lists of parliament members were compiled by the Communist Party leadership for rubber-stamp elections. (AP)
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