Gorbachev backs Putin

Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev on Thursday expressed his support to President Vladimir Putin, but sharply criticized the pro-Kremlin United Russia party, which the Russian leader is leading in the parliamentary elections to be held on December 2.

8220;I am on Putin8217;s side. I do not hold high respect towards the State Duma. But I think Putin has rendered great service to Russia,8221; Gorbachev said at a press conference.8221;I dislike this party, it is not a people8217;s party,8221; he said, while making a scathing attack on the United Russia party, for its refusal to hold televised debates with its rivals and broadcasting its own commercials during the allotted time.

Gorbachev also criticized Russian authorities8217; decision to jail former world chess champion Garry Kasparov.