25 May 2004 10:35
RUSSIA: GORBACHEV BREAKS WITH TITOV, QUITS SOCIAL DEMOCRATS
Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev stepped down on 22 May as head of the Social Democratic Party,
"Nezavisimaya gazeta" and other Russian media reported on 24 May. Gorbachev told the party's plenum that
he had lost confidence "on both the political and personal levels" in party Chairman and Samara Oblast
Governor Konstantin Titov. He also charged that Titov is attempting "to privatize" the party. ITAR-TASS
reported that Gorbachev told the plenum that the party is incapable of becoming a serious opposition force. His
resignation must be formally endorsed by a party congress scheduled for 4 September, the news agency reported. RC
Copyright (c) 2004. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
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