Ex-Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev Expresses Support For President Vladimir Putin's Policy

The ex-president of the U.S.S.R., Mikhail Gorbachev, has expressed his support for Russian President Vladimir Putin's policy. Addressing on Friday the 3rd congress of the Russian United Social Democratic Party which he heads, Gorbachev said that Putin's policy promotes Russia's national interests and the interests of a majority of the Russian population. Gorbachev said he supports Putin on major issues and will continue supporting him in the future. At the same time, the former Soviet president expressed concern that "many of the president's initiatives are not being adequately fulfilled." Speaking of the Civil Forum which closed the day before, Gorbachev emphasised that he cannot agree with statements made there about Putin's "authoritarianism and attempts to impose his will on the public opinion." Gorbachev also supported the Russian president's latest foreign-policy moves. He said that in its foreign policy Russia is taking "approaches that can lead to the establishment of a world order based on cooperation and a balance of interests." Gorbachev said he has an impression that "the West has not yet realised the value of all Putin's proposals." At the same time, he expressed conviction that the president's foreign-policy moves are aimed at "giving Russia the second wind."