Russian Leftist Throws Water At Gorbachev

14 October 2005 -- A young man described as a radical leftist was detained by Russian security agents after he threw water at former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev during a roundtable discussion in Moscow.

Gorbachev was not injured in the 13 October incident.

Sergei Udaltsov, described as leader of a group called Avant-garde Red Youth, said he threw water from a glass at Gorbachev because he blamed Gorbachev for being directly responsible for the collapse of the Soviet Union and for being a traitor to the country and the Communist Party.

Gorbachev is quoted as describing the incident as a publicity stunt and saying he supports political dialogue.

Gorbachev led the Soviet Union from 1985 until its breakup in 1991.

(AFP/ITAR-TASS)

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