Roman Abramovich symbolises 'rich debauchery' that has plagued corrupt Russia, claims former leader Mikhail Gorbachev

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has today launched a scathing attack on Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich as a symbol of Russia's 'rich debauchery'.

The 79-year-old statesman also blasted the Kremlin, claiming he has been banned from staging a political comeback, and saying he was 'ashamed' of his country's two most powerful men Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev.

He accused the ruling classes indifference to real people and their problems, forgetting the principles that the country was built upon.

'They are rich and debauched. Their ideal is to be something close to Abramovich,' he said.

'I scorn this idea. I am ashamed of this rich debauchery. I am ashamed for us and the country.'

He hit out at the Kremlin's chief ideologue - Vladislav Surkov - who he said had vetoed his plans for setting up a Social Democratic Party in Russia.

'When Surkov found out, he asked: 'Why do you need this? In any case, we are not going to register your party', said the architect of the glasnost and perestroika revolutions which led to the end of the Soviet Union almost two decades ago.

Surkov is seen as the brains behind the centralised, authoritarian system that has emerged in Russia since Putin - now prime minister - came to power 11 years ago.

The ex-Soviet leader complained: 'Just look at how the present leadership is formed. They select their acquaintances, people with whom they studied, their former neighbours who they played soccer with, people they messed around with and continue messing around with.'

He accused the leaders of 'skimming off property and quietly sending money out of the country' while launching bogus battles against corruption.

'They are hiding everything in offshore structures,' he said.

And he said the leadership was too dominated by 'Chekists' - figures linked to the secret services.

'This is not normal. The domination of the special services, their ability to decide political matters, their active interference in the lives of citizens - this is unacceptable.'

He said the the decision on who would lead Russia after the 2012 presidential elections would be taken not by the people but two men - Putin and president Dmitry Medvedev.

'This is shameful,' he said.

'I am ashamed of them. They aren't acting humbly. As if we have no society, no constitution, no system of elections, and so on.

'The two of them will decide. The duumvirate. And what about the 140 million of us out here? '

He asked: 'Is this stability? Or just the preservation of personal power?'

And he warned: 'More and more there is a whiff of imitation in the country.'

He dismissed their claims to be 'the saviours' of Russia. 'I think we are far from that.'

Unless urgent reforms were made, Russia could end up with a revolution 'worse' than Egypt's, he predicted.

Daily Mail, 16.02.2011