Gorbachev Warns Putin of Possible Unrest

By STEVE GUTTERMAN, Associated Press Writer

MOSCOW - Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, marking the 20th anniversary of his rise to power, warned Wednesday that Vladimir Putin could face serious unrest if he pursues painful economic policies and urged the Russian president to fire Cabinet members over unpopular benefit reforms.
 
Gorbachev also said Putin should beware of people in his entourage who believe the government can suppress public anger by cracking down on democracy and basic freedoms.
Speaking at a presentation of an opinion poll on attitudes to the sweeping reforms he launched after taking helm as the Soviet leader 20 years ago this week, Gorbachev said the point of his program of perestroika, or restructuring, was "more democracy, more socialism."
"And now I sense an odor that says that soon in our government ... there will appear slogans such as less democracy, fewer social programs," he said.
"We do have something to worry about," said Gorbachev, 74, who has become a social democrat politically.
He also expressed concern over rising prices and rates for basic needs ranging from electricity and gas to education and medicine — all free under the Soviet-era social safety net.
"All the rates are rising unbelievably," Gorbachev said. "I don't understand how it's possible to go further on that path. We may provoke a merciless revolt."
Gorbachev lashed out at Putin's Cabinet over a law replacing many Soviet-style benefits such as free transportation and subsidized medicine with cash payments many say are inadequate. The law, which took effect Jan. 1, sparked the biggest protests of Putin's five years as president.
"The government, after what they did to old people ... showed that it failed, it's unneeded. I don't know what is preventing the president from, if not completely changing the government, then from reacting to such things," he said. "Our people are patient, but you can't treat these people, who deserve much more respect, this way."
As in the past, Gorbachev stressed that he supports Putin, who critics in Russia and abroad say is retreating from democracy. But he suggested members of Putin's inner circle advocate cracking down on freedoms to suppress unrest.
"I think they are trying to convince him that it's possible to do all this, as long as you tighten the screws — I mean in terms of democracy," Gorbachev said. "The president needs our support, because there are difficult processes going on around him.
"They got rid of me, but it's necessary that they don't get rid of Putin," said Gorbachev, who survived a botched hardline Communist coup in 1991 but was left jobless later that year when the Soviet Union collapsed. He was replaced in the Kremlin by Boris Yeltsin.

Associated Press, 9.03.2005