MOSCOW — Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev criticized Kremlin policies today and toyed with the ambitious idea of attempting a political comeback.

Gorbachev said corruption and overdependence on oil exports have aggravated the impact of the global economic crisis on Russia. He urged President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to restructure the economy, cut down government spending and ensure political freedoms.

But he also suggested everyday Russians must shake their reliance on government largess that has been boosted by energy price hikes during the past decade.

"We have paternalistic expectations of government support," he told a conference at his charitable foundation. "The price of oil has gone up a little bit, and we're saying that life is back to normal."

Gorbachev said his concerns about Russia are prompting him to consider a more active role in politics.

"What I have said motivates me to create a political force that could oppose, that could pose questions," he said. "Evidently there is a need for it, and we should initiate it."

He spoke hesitantly, however, and seemed to acknowledge he would have a hard time winning active backing, even from like-minded people.