Gorbachev: Medvedev is outmaneuvered by PutinAugust 17, 2011 - 12:59 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is being outmaneuvered by his powerful Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has said. According to RIA Novosti, in the latest of a series of attacks on Putin, Gorbachev told The Guardian that the ex-KGB officer was stopping Medvedev implementing his much touted modernization plan. "The modernization plan put forward by the president in the economy, politics and other spheres is good but the president's possibilities are limited," Gorbachev said. "He's being outplayed and outsmarted by Putin, I see.” “[Putin] thinks we should stick with the status quo,” he went on. He also said that Putin had failed to take advantage of Russia’s windfall from high oil prices. "Those opportunities were not properly used and managed. Of course, now the issue is that we are facing a tide of social problems that will define the country's future, education, healthcare and other things. If we are not able to address those problems successfully, there will be no modernization in Russia. We need a different program from Putin's,” he added. Gorbachev, 80, was speaking ahead of Friday’s 20th anniversary of the hard-line coup that eventually led to the collapse of the Soviet Union and the coming to power of Boris Yeltsin. "I was probably too liberal and democratic as regards Yeltsin,” Gorbachev said of his arch-nemesis. “I should have sent him as ambassador to Britain or maybe a former British colony.” Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. |