Nikolai Rybakov’s Facebook page, 31.08.2022

Mikhail Gorbachev gave our entire society and each of us personally a lot of chances. Society got the chance for renewal and building of a civilised state.

It was under Gorbachev that a true parliament was born, and relatively free elections were held, where democrats received significant representation.

The most important work began then to reduce international tension, and assess the awareness of the Stalinist past.

But democracy is not an optional activity. These are daily practices of citizens’ participation. This should have been realised by every person in the country. However, this did not happen.

Certainly, the new political class – which largely consisted of gifted and bright people, who, nevertheless, gambled on the personality of Yeltsin, rather than building institutions – failed to cope. This led to another leaderism in a “democratic” package. But how can one blame Gorbachev for this, who, on the contrary, did not cling to power?

Gorbachev tried to make sure that each of us had a chance for freedom. Which we have not implemented yet. It all the curses against him seem to come down to this. On the one hand, these curses come from those who do not want this freedom to exist. On the other hand, they come from those who do not know what to do with this chance and why it is needed at all.

Scolding Gorbachev, as well as the Gorbachev era, has become common. But when a modern state is built in our country, further generations will be truly grateful to him.

On behalf of all members of the Yabloko party, I am saying “Thank you!” to Mikhail Gorbachev.