Yeltsin Lashes Out at Pro-Communist Critics, Mocks Gorbachev

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan —  Russian President Boris N. Yeltsin declared war Friday on conservative politicians who have called him a drunkard, and he also mocked former Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev’s attempts to preserve his role as a world leader.

During a morning session of the Russian legislature, pro-Communist legislators accused Yeltsin of being intoxicated Thursday night when he arrived at the Commonwealth summit in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan, and called for a discussion of the president’s drinking habits.

“As long as Yeltsin is in control of nuclear weapons, society must be sure that he is healthy and sane,” one deputy said.

Yeltsin, who has long had to put up with similar insinuations about his love of the bottle, said he will no longer stand by while his character is assaulted.

“This is a veritable campaign to discredit the president,” Yeltsin roared. “This is a fight, and we must not only fight back but we must also win.”

The burly Russian leader said he is prepared to defend himself.

“I feel profoundly ashamed of those who are raising these issues--in the press and especially in Parliament,” he said. “Reporters were present during my arrival yesterday, and they can be asked to witness for me.”

Yeltsin also ended his silence on the subject of his longtime opponent, Gorbachev, who has been traveling the globe.

“His speech in Chicago was staggering,” Yeltsin said in reference to one of many addresses the former Kremlin chief made during a two-week U.S. tour.

Then, in a squeaky, derisive voice, pretending to be Gorbachev, Yeltsin said: “I am a politician of world caliber. Let’s create a world government and make me its chairman. I am for socialism.”

Then, with his puffy face contorted into a grimace, he added: “You see--he again is for socialism. How much more?! One just feels ashamed.”

Recalling a conversation he had with Gorbachev on Christmas Day when the Soviet leader, beset by political enemies, finally stepped down, Yeltsin made it clear that he feels bitter toward Gorbachev for not leaving the political stage.

“When I was taking over from him . . . we sat face to face for nine hours alone, and finally . . . he gave me his honest word that he would never return to politics,” Yeltsin said. “Here is the price of his honest word.”

Yeltsin and Gorbachev have long been political rivals. Gorbachev elevated Yeltsin in 1985 as the Communist Party chief of Moscow but fired him two years later after Yeltsin attacked the pace of Gorbachev’s reforms.

The two continued to battle over the pace of reforms until Yeltsin and the leaders of Ukraine and Belarus forged the Commonwealth last December, which spelled the end of Gorbachev’s power in the Kremlin.

During his impassioned answers to journalists’ questions, Yeltsin turned his attention to the ultraconservatives in the Parliament who are trying to restore Soviet power and the pro-Communists who have been demonstrating for the release of the jailed leaders of the hard-line putsch.

“A campaign by the reds and browns (Communists and Fascists) for the restoration of the Soviet Union is not just silly--it’s downright idiotic,” Yeltsin said.

Yeltsin again proposed abolishing the Congress of People’s Deputies, the top legislative body in Russia, whose members are predominantly former Communists.

Times staff writer Shogren reported from Moscow, and Grebenshikov, a reporter in The Times’ Moscow bureau, from Tashkent.