MOSCOW, Oct 20: Former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev founded a new “political movement” on Saturday aimed at fighting democratic abuses in Russia, but not at challenging President Vladimir Putin’s rule.

“We are putting our hopes in the efforts that Putin is making” to reform Russia, Gorbachev told some 200 delegates at the founding congress of the Union of Social-Democrats in Moscow.

But Gorbachev, 76, who will lead the movement, also highlighted “negative tendencies,” including a lack of real political debate, pressure being put on non governmental groups and high levels of corruption.

“We are fighting for power, but only for power over people’s minds,” said Gorbachev.

His new movement is not a political party and will therefore not take part in parliamentary elections in December.

United Russia, the dominant party in the Russian parliament, is set for a landslide victory in the elections after Putin announced earlier this month that he would run as its top candidate.

The deadline for parties to register for the elections passed on October 17.

A statement issued by the movement said that “the potential for free democratic choice and political competition is being limited.... This is why social-democrats are uniting to fight for the values of freedom and fairness.”

Gorbachev was the last general secretary of the Communist Party of the USSR.—AFP