Original source URL: http://www.postchronicle.com/news/breakingnews/article_21225016.shtml Gorbachev: Don't Push Putin On Rights by UPI Wire Jun 25, 2006 LONDON, June 25, 2006 (UPI) -- Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the former Soviet Union, is cautioning Western nations against interfering in Russia's domestic affairs. In an interview with The London Times, Gorbachev said it would be counterproductive for Western leaders to put pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin over human rights at next month's G8 summit in St Petersburg, Russia. "Russia is not anyone's domain," said Gorbachev. "Russia will work these things out -- together with our partners and friends." Gorbachev said world leaders can "raise whatever they want" at the G8 meetings, but he said pressuring Putin over human rights would strengthen his hand domestically "because in essence his position is very close to the aspirations of the people." "I have said myself that Putin has made mistakes," said Gorbachev. "But the principles of democracy are realized in a specific context, and you have to bear in mind the Russian historical, economic and social situation." Copyright 2006 United Press International -- -------------------------------------------------------- Escaping the Matrix website http://escapingthematrix.org/ cyberjournal website http://cyberjournal.org subscribe cyberjournal list mailto:•••@••.••• Posting archives http://cyberjournal.org/show_archives/ Blogs: cyberjournal forum http://cyberjournal-rkm.blogspot.com/ Achieving real democracy http://harmonization.blogspot.com/ for readers of ETM http://matrixreaders.blogspot.com/ Community Empowerment http://empowermentinitiatives.blogspot.com/ Blogger made easy http://quaylargo.com/help/ezblogger.html
