Boris Yeltsin: The First President of the Russian Federation

Early Life and Career

Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin was born on February 1, 1931, in the village of Butka, Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union. His parents were Nikolai Ignatyevich Yeltsin, a carpenter, and Klavdia Vasilyevna Yeltsina, a seamstress. Yeltsin grew up in a poor family, and his father was often absent due to his work. Yeltsin was a bright and ambitious child, and he excelled in school. He joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) in 1961, and he quickly rose through the ranks. In 1976, Yeltsin became the First Secretary of the Sverdlovsk Oblast Committee of the CPSU, making him one of the most powerful regional leaders in the Soviet Union.

Boris Yeltsin: Former Russian President

by Andre Norton

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1300 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	106 pages

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Rise to Power

In the late 1980s, Yeltsin emerged as a leading critic of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's reforms. Yeltsin argued that Gorbachev's reforms were not going far enough, and he called for more radical change. In 1989, Yeltsin was elected to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, and he quickly became one of the most popular politicians in the country. In 1990, Yeltsin was elected President of the Russian SFSR, and he immediately began to implement his own reforms. Yeltsin's reforms were controversial, and they led to a sharp decline in the standard of living for many Russians. However, Yeltsin remained popular, and he was seen as a symbol of hope for a better future.

President of the Russian Federation

In 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed, and Yeltsin became the first President of the Russian Federation. Yeltsin faced a daunting task. The Russian economy was in shambles, and the country was on the brink of civil war. Yeltsin implemented a series of economic reforms, including privatization and price liberalization. These reforms were painful, but they ultimately helped to stabilize the Russian economy. Yeltsin also worked to strengthen the Russian military and to improve relations with the West.

Legacy

Yeltsin's legacy is complex and controversial. He is credited with leading Russia through a difficult transition from communism to capitalism. However, he is also criticized for his handling of the Chechen War and for his authoritarian tendencies. Yeltsin resigned from the presidency in 1999, and he died in 2007. He is still remembered as a towering figure in Russian history.

Boris Yeltsin was a complex and contradictory figure. He was a charismatic leader who inspired hope and fear in equal measure. He played a pivotal role in the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the transition to a market economy in Russia. Yeltsin's legacy is still debated today, but there is no doubt that he was one of the most important figures in Russian history.

Boris Yeltsin: Former Russian President

by Andre Norton

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1300 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	106 pages

FREE