SHARE SELECTION

Click here to print

Russian MPs call for Mikhail Gorbachev to be prosecuted for

'allowing' the collapse of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union was dismantled under leadership of Mikhail Gorbachev
Former president is well regarded for also helping to end Cold War
Now group of Russian MPs have called for him to be prosecuted
One from President Putin's party has even branded him a 'US spy'
Gorbachev, 83, said move is 'sheer stupidity' adding MPs had 'no shame'
By Will Stewart In Moscow
Published: 12:11 GMT, 10 April 2014 | Updated: 12:14 GMT, 10 April 2014

SHARE PICTURE

+5
A group of Russian MPs have called for former leader Mikhail Gorbachev to be
prosecuted fro the breakup of the Soviet Union 23 years ago

Russian MPs are making an extraordinary bid to have Mikhail Gorbachev prosecuted for the 'illegal' collapse of the Soviet Union more than two decades
ago.
They are calling for a criminal probe into the last leader of the USSR, a man widely respected around the world for ending the Cold War.
One MP in Vladimir Putin's United Russia Party even branded 83-year-old Gorbachev a 'US spy' for the break-up of the Communist state 23 years ago.
He also argued that the legal move would offer succour to pro-Moscow groups in other states seeking to revert to Kremlin rule.
Gorbachev today called the MPs' move 'sheer stupidity', adding: 'These people just do not have shame.
'I do not react to such statements. I am doing my business and taking care of my health.'
The legal demand from a multi-party group in the Russian parliament comes after Moscow has annexed its former territory of Crimea including naval port
Sevastopol, and amid fears that its massing troops could lead to a new land grab in ex-Soviet neighbour Ukraine.
The group has petitioned Russian prosecutor general Yury Chaika with a view to criminal cases against those responsible for allowing the Baltic States of
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to secure independence and the later break-up of the remaining republics of the USSR.
'The MPs are hoping for opening criminal cases in future based on results of this prosecutor's investigation, one of such cases would be against the last
Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev,' reported Russian daily paper Izvestia.
MP Evgeniy Fedorov, of United Russia who claims Gorbachev is currently in Germany, said: 'We need a full and reliable legal analysis of the event in 1991.
We must consider the fact of deliberate liquidation of power institutions.'

SHARE PICTURE

+5
Gorbachev (pictured on a visit to Downing Street in 1991) is widely credited with ending
the Cold War. His resignation on Christmas Day 1991 symbolised the decision to break
up the Soviet Union

'I do not think Germany will extradite him if the investigation proves his guilt in the collapse of the country and his status of a US spy, according to which he
was forming all his policy in those days.'
The legal probe was needed to 'draw the right historic and political picture which would let us make straight conclusions. And after all, it would encourage
national liberation movements in former Soviet territories.'
Liberal Democrat MP Mikhail Dyagterev said: 'So far there has been no legal opinion on the fact of tearing states to pieces. But everything supports the
idea that it was a pre-planned action, and those guilty must be made responsible, including Gorbachev.
'We are still experiencing the consequences of the event in 1991. People in Kiev are dying and will keep dying because those in the Kremlin many years
ago have decided to break down the country.'
The MPs, including Communists, complained that the decision to end the Soviet Union - symbolised by Gorbachev's resignation on Christmas Day 1991 -
was taken despite a referendum which opposed a break-up.

SHARE PICTURE

+5

Current Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured talking to Gorbachev in 2004) has
called the breakup of the Union the 'greatest geopolitical tragedy of the 20th century'

The latest move appears to be inspired by Putin's view that 'the collapse of the Soviet Union was a major geopolitical disaster of the century. As for the
Russian nation, it became a genuine drama.
'Tens of millions of our co-citizens and co-patriots found themselves outside Russian territory. Moreover, the epidemic of disintegration infected Russia
itself.'

SHARE PICTURE

+5
NATO General Secretary Anders Fogh Rasmussen has today told Russia to withdraw its
troops from the Ukrainian border

Marina Bobkova, the head of Historic Knowledge Centre of the History Institute of Russian Academy of Science, said the matter needed a judicial decision.
'Putin was the first to give the right evaluation of this event. He called it the largest geopolitical catastrophe.
'All of us can have different opinions but we cannot argue with this statement. It was an unprecedented case - the state liquidated itself.
'It is good that this matter is raised again. And lawyers should deal with it, not politicians or historians.
She stated: 'Many participants of those days events are peacefully living at the territory of Russia and in other countries now.
'If their guilt is proved by evidence, I think it is fair to initiate sanctions against them.'
Gorbachev claimed the MPs wanted 'to PR themselves', arguing: 'The appeal is not well thought through, and from the view of historic facts - it is absolute
groundless.'
Protesters in eastern Ukraine have this week called on Putin to intervene to guarantee their rights, despite warnings from NATO of further sanctions if they
intervene.
NATO General Secretary Anders Fogh Rasmussen said today that any further military action by Russia would lead to grave consequences and severe
economic sanctions.
He said: 'From Prague, I have this message to Russia: You have a choice to stop blaming others for your own actions, to stop massing your troops, to stop
escalating this crisis and start engaging in a genuine dialogue.
'If Russia is serious about a dialogue, the first step should be to pull back its troops.'

SHARE PICTURE

+5
Russia has roughly 40,000 troops stationed along the Ukrainian border and has
threatened to act to protect its citizens inside the country. today pro-Russian activists
have been demonstrating in the eastern city of Luhansk

Ukrainian leaders claim the trouble in its Russian-speaking regions has been fomented by Moscow's secret services.
Russia, the United States, Ukraine and the European Union will hold talks next Thursday in Geneva to try to negotiate an end to the crisis in Ukraine, EU
diplomats said on Thursday.
Rasmussen said earlier this week NATO was reviewing a 1997 co-operation agreement with Russia and subsequent Rome declaration of 2002 that
prevented NATO setting up bases in eastern and central Europe

Comments (67)
Share what you think
Newest
Oldest
Best rated
Worst rated
View all
thebestcountry, london, United Kingdom, 2 months ago
laughable comments by profane "experts" who don't even know where Russia is situated.
1
6
Click to rate
Bemused, Bedford, 2 months ago
There you go, the USSR is back.
2
3
Click to rate
rmatthewware, Kansas City, United States, 2 months ago
So now we're against communism? Last week we were okay with Russia annexing Crimea. Which is it? Prosecute Gorbachev for ending the USSR or prosecute Putin for trying to
recreate it?
4
3
Click to rate