2 Mar 2011: Mikhail Gorbachev turns 80

The first and the last Soviet Union president, Mikhail Gorbachev, celebrates his 80th birthday on Mar 2. It follows a year of other key anniversaries for the architect of glasnost and peristroika. The 25th anniversary of his accession as Soviet leader, the 20th anniversary of his inauguration as USSR executive president and 20th anniversary of his Nobel Peace Prize all fall in 2010. newsahead


Mikhail Gorbachev slams Vladimir Putin

Mikhail Gorbachev, the last General Secretary of the Soviet Union, attacked Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin for grabbing political power and robbing the Russian people of their Democratic choice.

Gorbachev's complaint revolves around a plan for Putin and current Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to decide who will be permitted to run for president of Russia in next year's elections. "This is not Putin's business. It is the business of the nation. It is the business of elections. It is the business of those who will vote," he said. yahoo


Classic Russian Corruption

Alexey Navalny leaps out of his chair and draws five black circles on a whiteboard. The circles represent players in Russia's multibillion-dollar oil industry. With boundless energy and lightning speed, he draws lines and connects the dots, telling the story of what he calls classic Russian corruption. guardian