Economist warns of anti-Gorbachev plot

Press, 24 October 1989, Page 8

Economist warns of anti-Gorbachev plot

NZPA-Reuter Moscow A radical Soviet economist has warned of a plot to topple the Kremlin chief, Mikhail Gorbachev, and painted a grim picture of what life would be like under Politburo conservatives, led by Yegor Ligachev. Tatyana Koryagina, a member of a government commission on economic reform, told the Latvian youth newspaper, “Sovetskaya Molodezh,” that there were many groups who wanted Mr Gorbachev out of office and the struggle went right up to the ruling Politburo. “I am deeply convinced that there is a plot,” she said. “These groups may not yet be formally organised. The political spectrum of their interests is a very complicated one, but (their common interest) is toppling Gorbachev.

“One of the scenes in which the drama is played out is, of course, the Politburo,” Ms Koryagina added. The plot warning was the most explicit to be published in the Soviet news media. Such rumours have long circulated but the Soviet leader has repeatedly denied being in any danger. Ms Koryagina said Soviet poli-

tics had polarised into a radical wing, which wanted development along Western lines and gravitated toward a Communist Party maverick, Boris Yeltsin, and a conservative wing, which she said was led by Mr Ligachev. She stopped short of directly accusing Mr Ligachev of conspiring against the Soviet leader but said the wing that he headed was opposed to all economic reforms and wanted a return to preGorbachev days. Mr Ligachev, in another newspaper, “Arguments and Facts,” denied suggestions that he was either Mr Gorbachev’s enemy or an alternative to the Soviet leader. “Mikhail Sergeyevich (Gorbachev) and I came into the Central Committee as persons of like mind and remain that way,” he said. “On various questions we may have our own judgments. That is natural.” Mr Ligachev, a former Kremlin No. 2 and party ideology chief, was moved to agricultural policy a year ago amid speculation that Mr Gorbachev sought to bring about his downfall by giving him the difficult task of improving farm output.

Ms Koryagina said Mr Ligachev was widely disliked, and if he came to power there would be a nationwide strike with people taking to the streets in protest. “Military force and execution of saboteurs will be necessary. People will work only under the threat of death,” she said.