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Former Soviet Leader Praises Putin
Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev praised Russian President Vladimir Putin Thursday, saying Putin "is being guided by Russia's national interests, not by the interests of a clan."
Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union, now leads a Social-Democratic Party. During a two-hour meeting with Putin, Gorbachev assured the latter that he and his party would support the policy pursued by Putin, the Interfax news agency reported.
Gorbachev quoted Putin as saying "Russia is in fact a social-democratic state which does not want to return to the past."
He rejected as "unfair" allegations that Putin is building a dictatorship.
"I support Putin's efforts to strengthen order and responsibility," Gorbachev said, noting that "regionalism is threatening to lead to the country's disintegration."
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