Putin Has 'Exhausted Himself' as Leader, Says Gorbachev

The former Soviet leader wants Putin to step aside to let a new era of Russian politics emerge.

Mikhail Gorbachev, the last chairman of the Soviet Union, told a Russian news network this week that Vladimir Putin has "exhausted himself" as a leader. Gorby had called on Putin to resign during massive protests in Moscow last December, but Putin, who is now prime minister but is running for the presidency once again, politely declined to do so. Russia's presidential election is set for March 4, and Putin is the clear favourite to win, although support for him has been less robust than in previous years. He's been helped by glowing endorsements from the likes of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, who this week referred to Putin's rule as a "miracle of God." Gorbachev has taken a decidedly different tack, claiming that Putin and his inner circle, many of whom are products of Soviet-era intelligence services, have returned Russia to its less liberal days. Gorbachev says he foresees more and more street protests erupting across Russia if Putin wins on March 4.