"I didn't throw out my party card, I didn't burn it," said Putin, a former KGB agent in East Germany, at a meeting with supporters, quoted by Interfax news agency. "My card is lying round somewhere."
To older Russians, holding onto a Soviet Communist party card -- once compulsory for top officials -- shows a degree of nostalgia for the previous regime.
"I wasn't a party member through necessity. I can't say I was totally an ideological Communist but I did really treasure it (the card)," said Putin, pointing out that he served for nearly 20 years in the "armed wing of the party".
Putin -- who has revived some Soviet traditions and state controls over his years ruling Russia -- said that he still "really likes" the ideals of communism, even if they were not implemented properly by Soviet leaders .... http://news.yahoo.com
