Gorbachev sees Russian democracy far off: biographer TaubmanNEW YORK (Reuters) - Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, celebrated in the West for championing democracy and helping end the Cold War, sees little chance Russia will turn from czarist-reminiscent, strongman government anytime in coming decades, the U.S. author of a new biography said on Monday. Pulitzer Prize-winning William Taubman interviewed Gorbachev, now 86, eight times for his  Gorbachev: His Life and Times  and said in the Reuters Global Markets Forum online chat room that Gorbachev was widely disliked in Russia. Here are edited excerpts: Question: How do Russians now see Gorbachev, who was popular in the 1980s? Answer: He is widely despised in Russia. People blame him for the collapse of the USSR, loss of its empire, the economic crash that accompanied the collapse, and also for seeming to be (to them, at any rate) a weak, indecisive leader. Q: Why does Russian President Vladimir Putin ignore Gorbachev, even as he memorializes much Russian history? A: Putin has only gained by ignoring or criticizing Gorbachev. In many ways, Putin s program is the opposite of Gorbachev s. It is as if Gorbachev has bequeathed the program, namely, the reverse of his own. As for Russia s dissatisfaction today, it is apparently growing as economic conditions worsen. But Putin has rallied support by annexing the Crimea, by depicting the West as Russia s enemy, by invoking the old czarist Trinity of principles: autocracy, nationality, and Orthodox religion. Q: Does Gorbachev have much hope of seeing a more democratic government? A: Gorbachev himself says it might take decades to democratize Russia,  even the whole 21st century.  This from a man who had hoped to see democracy come to the USSR in a few short years. Q: Is Gorbachev content in his late life? A: He insists he is. But I can t imagine he really is. His innate optimism may sustain him. But in addition to all the political attacks on him that continue, he now lives largely alone (except for bodyguards, chefs and chauffeurs) in a big house in the suburbs. ((This interview was conducted in the Reuters Global Markets Forum, a chat room hosted on the Eikon platform.)) worldnews
gorbachev sees russian democracy far biographer taubmannew york reuters former soviet leader michael gorbachev celebrated west championing democracy helping end cold war sees little chance russia turn strongman government anytime coming decades author new biography said monday pulitzer william taubman interviewed gorbachev eight times gorbachev his life times said reuters global markets forum online chat room gorbachev widely disliked russia here edited excerpts question how russian see gorbachev popular answer he widely despised russia people blame collapse ussr loss empire economic crash accompanied collapse also seeming rate weak decisive leader q why russian president vladimir putin ignore gorbachev even memorialized much russian history a putin gained ignoring criticizing gorbachev in many ways putin program opposite gorbachev it gorbachev bequeathed program namely reverse as russia dissatisfaction today apparently growing economic conditions worsen but putin rallied support annoying crimea depicting west russia enemy invoking old chariot trinity principles autocracy nationality orthodox religion q does gorbachev much hope seeing democratic government a gorbachev says might take decades democratic russia even whole century this man hoped see democracy come ussr short years q is gorbachev content late life a he insists but i imagine really his innate optimism may sustain but addition political attacks continue lives largely alone except bodyguards chefs chauffeur big house suburbs this interview conducted reuters global markets forum chat room hosted icon platform worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Gorbachev sees Russian democracy far off: biographer TaubmanNEW YORK (Reuters) - Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, celebrated in the West for championing democracy and helping end the Cold War, sees little chance Russia will turn from czarist-reminiscent, strongman government anytime in coming decades, the U.S. author of a new biography said on Monday. Pulitzer Prize-winning William Taubman interviewed Gorbachev, now 86, eight times for his  Gorbachev: His Life and Times  and said in the Reuters Global Markets Forum online chat room that Gorbachev was widely disliked in Russia. Here are edited excerpts: Question: How do Russians now see Gorbachev, who was popular in the 1980s? Answer: He is widely despised in Russia. People blame him for the collapse of the USSR, loss of its empire, the economic crash that accompanied the collapse, and also for seeming to be (to them, at any rate) a weak, indecisive leader. Q: Why does Russian President Vladimir Putin ignore Gorbachev, even as he memorializes much Russian history? A: Putin has only gained by ignoring or criticizing Gorbachev. In many ways, Putin s program is the opposite of Gorbachev s. It is as if Gorbachev has bequeathed the program, namely, the reverse of his own. As for Russia s dissatisfaction today, it is apparently growing as economic conditions worsen. But Putin has rallied support by annexing the Crimea, by depicting the West as Russia s enemy, by invoking the old czarist Trinity of principles: autocracy, nationality, and Orthodox religion. Q: Does Gorbachev have much hope of seeing a more democratic government? A: Gorbachev himself says it might take decades to democratize Russia,  even the whole 21st century.  This from a man who had hoped to see democracy come to the USSR in a few short years. Q: Is Gorbachev content in his late life? A: He insists he is. But I can t imagine he really is. His innate optimism may sustain him. But in addition to all the political attacks on him that continue, he now lives largely alone (except for bodyguards, chefs and chauffeurs) in a big house in the suburbs. ((This interview was conducted in the Reuters Global Markets Forum, a chat room hosted on the Eikon platform.)) worldnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: gorbachev sees russian democracy far biographer taubmannew york reuters former soviet leader michael gorbachev celebrated west championing democracy helping end cold war sees little chance russia turn strongman government anytime coming decades author new biography said monday pulitzer william taubman interviewed gorbachev eight times gorbachev his life times said reuters global markets forum online chat room gorbachev widely disliked russia here edited excerpts question how russian see gorbachev popular answer he widely despised russia people blame collapse ussr loss empire economic crash accompanied collapse also seeming rate weak decisive leader q why russian president vladimir putin ignore gorbachev even memorialized much russian history a putin gained ignoring criticizing gorbachev in many ways putin program opposite gorbachev it gorbachev bequeathed program namely reverse as russia dissatisfaction today apparently growing economic conditions worsen but putin rallied support annoying crimea depicting west russia enemy invoking old chariot trinity principles autocracy nationality orthodox religion q does gorbachev much hope seeing democratic government a gorbachev says might take decades democratic russia even whole century this man hoped see democracy come ussr short years q is gorbachev content late life a he insists but i imagine really his innate optimism may sustain but addition political attacks continue lives largely alone except bodyguards chefs chauffeur big house suburbs this interview conducted reuters global markets forum chat room hosted icon platform worldnews