Mikhail Gorbachev: We need changes along the lines of a replacement of the entire system

- We had long been following this process and for some time it has already been clear that Putin and Medvedev had agreed everything between themselves. Moreover, now it becomes clear that they agreed long ago, even more than a year ago – they did it back then when this contract was concluded. In terms of how this contract has been performed everything is good. But overall the situation in the country as it has been developing is a complicated one. I have, in fact, already commented on this stalemate. We need to overcome it. If the decision taken incentivizes both the future president and the future prime minister, then it will be ok with me. Of course, I mean if he is elected – because we are used to seeing everything being predetermined and “words are suited to actions”; however, we are trying to build democracy... Yet, the incumbent prime minister was the one to devise things that have been accomplished recently and led to the current situation. And it seems he will be the one to make decisions. It will be his mistake if the future president (whoever becomes president, including Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin]) leaves everything without changes, thinks only about how to stay in power and tries to keep the old team - who are the ones to blame for how things are. We can assume that there will be no movement forward if there are not serious changes along the lines of a replacement of the entire system. I believe without this we could lose six years. I think that the future president needs to think about this very seriously.