Did Putin Save Russia From Disintegration?

Former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev (L) signs autographs during a presentation of his new book "After Kremlin" in Moscow December 26, 2014. (Reuters / Sergei Karpukhin)

Gorbachev: Putin Saved Russia From Disintegration -- RT

Russian President Vladimir Putin saved the country from falling apart, former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev said during the presentation of his new book 'After the Kremlin.' Gorbachev also commented on the situation in Ukraine and NATO expansion.



“I think all of us – Russian citizens – must remember that [Putin] saved Russia from the beginning of a collapse. A lot of the regions did not recognize our constitution. There were over a hundred local constitutional variations from that of the Russian constitution,” RIA Novosti quoted Gorbachev as saying on Friday.



He added that saving Russia during that crucial period was a “historical deed.”



Gorbachev remarked that he knew the Russian president before Putin took office, describing him as having good judgment and discipline.



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My Comment: No Mr. Gorbachev .... he did not save Russia from disintegration. The crisis in Russia after the break-up of the Soviet Union was primarily economic and the social instability that it was causing. But Putin was not the President when Russia started to bounce back from the August 1998 financial crash (the devalued ruble made Russian goods competitive) .... I remember those times very well .... employment was going up and a number of reforms were being proposed .... reforms which Putin was not in a position to object to when assuming the Presidency in 2000. If I am going to give Putin credit, it is his approval of a simple 13% flat tax .... this simple policy stabilized what the Russian government could collect in taxes, and gave a boost to small and medium businesses in their business plans. His busting up of the oligarchs who bought up Russian resources and companies on the cheap .... replaced by his own allies .... is a debate that is still ongoing .... but I for one am not sorry that Russia's first oligarchs are now gone.