Gorbachev forms new Social-Democrtatic Movement

Moscow, Sep 26 (UNI) Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, writers Genrikh Borovik and Mikhail Shatrov and a number of other prominent perestroika figures have announced the establishment of a new social-democratic movement in Russia.

"We aim to make a personal contribution to Russia's transformation into a modern democracy observing human rights and combining moral and economic freedom with social security," the movement founders said here in a statement.

The initiative group has about 30 members, among them former Moscow Mayor Gavriil Popov, economist Nikolai Shmelyov, journalist Lyudmila Telen, Gorbachev Fund Executive Director Olga Zdravomyslova and many social leaders from Moscow, St Petersburg, Pskov, Chelyabinsk and Bryansk.

They said they belong to different generations but their main motivation "is the concern over the current situation and the wish to promote Russia's development as a modern democracy" adding that "Following the bankruptcy of the Soviet bureaucratic socialism and the failure of neo-liberal economic reforms of the 1990s, it became obvious that the social-democratic trend meets the interests of the majority of Russian citizens".

They also noted that there is a danger of cynical manipulations with social-democratic notions for securing the political dominance and economic positions of the existent elite.

UNI