He gave us freedom, and we did not manage to use it. Essay Grigory Yavlinsky (fragment)

Was the last Secretary General when making fateful decisions a certain strategy or momentary considerations? How consciously and thoughtfully did he act?

Most likely, Mikhail Sergeyevich simply did not imply such a rapid development of events, such a decisive rejection of the Soviet system. He gave people freedom of speech, and everything else was already a consequence, everything happened almost instantly.

Yes, Gorbachev really believed in the possibility of renewing socialism, believed that life can breathe into the already lifeless body of the Soviet system.

Yes, there were erroneous solutions, it happened to make mistakes in people, in understanding and evaluating the situation at a particular moment in time.

It was all.

However, all this does not change the main thing. And the main thing is that the transformation that happened during the reign of Gorbachev with our country and the world was actually a value revolution. From a distance of decades, Gorbachev began to embody new political thinking, a new philosophy.

Yes, there were no institutions based on values. Gorbachev did not do this - a too short period of time in power was measured in power, and perhaps he did not see such a task at all. However

The source of the problems of the modern world in fundamentally different phenomena is in cynical pragmatism a real policy and real economy.

It is these phenomena, unfortunately, today determine our life and the modern world. But to the historical vectors of Gorbachev, to the values ​​to which they are directed, will inevitably have to return. And the sooner the better.

***

In August 1995, Gorbachev was the only time in my office (and not me in him). And I asked him a question:

- Mikhail Sergeyevich, I understand correctly that the most important thing you have done - gave people the opportunity to speak loudly and aloud what they think? For this, they stopped putting them in jail, dismiss from work and even exclude them from the party. And this turned out to be enough for the communist totalitarian system, built on lies, fall apart?

“That's right,” Gorbachev confirmed.

“And then,” I said, “please explain to me how you, the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU, could have occurred to me?” How could you think that people could be free?

Gorbachev smiled and answered:

“Grisha, don't you know that Raisa Maksimovna is my philosopher?”

***

Gorbachev gave us freedom. He gave freedom to millions of people in Russia and around it, as well as half of Europe. How we took advantage of the freedom donated to us in Russia, this great opportunity, is our responsibility.

Few leaders in history had such a decisive influence in its time. Over six years in power, Mikhail Gorbachev changed the world.

Gorbachev did not leave Russia. He would be accepted with enthusiasm in any country, and he remained in his homeland, where he was extremely difficult from mass misunderstanding and rejection.

And yet. Gorbachev, who possessed unlimited power, did not steal anything among his country and his people. When the money was needed for his charitable foundation, the USSR President starred in advertising. Having passed the test of power, Gorbachev managed to maintain dignity and remain man.

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You read a small fragment of the article by Grigory Yavlinsky. The full version will be released in the fifth issue of the “New Story Gazeta” , and for our accomplices-is already available in a special section on the site.