From the article:

Gorbachev said that Russian democracy is growing despite its problems. He noted that the courts don't work and some media outlets have made deals with the authorities. But there is now, he said, a relatively free press.

Russia is moving from a totalitarian regime to democracy, he said, but it is only halfway there.


This is a very optimistic view of Russia. I think its bull.

The press is having a very tough time. And Russia is moving back towards a totalitarian way. Democracy is a terribly difficult thing to achieve. We had some sense that it would just occur automatically. That Democracy is somehow the steady state that is inevitably reached. Well its clearly not.

The institutions must be in place, a country just cant say we want to be democratic. And given Russia's history, the cultural inclination is clearly set up for a very organized totalitarian state, rather than a democracy that cant keep the lights on and protect citizens from criminals. The fledging democracy was rife with scandal and people taking advantage of the government privatizing industries, etc... And the folks on the street get sick of having inequities right in front of their faces, rather than hidden behind the big wall of a government.

IMO, this country is heading in a diff. direction...The easier well worn path. Not the difficult fair path of democracy. And I thank you...