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Boris Yeltsin: The Man Who Changed Russia

Calvin Fisher

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Boris Yeltsin was the first president of the Russian Federation. He served from 1991 to 1999. During his presidency, Russia underwent a number of major changes, including the collapse of the Soviet Union, the of a market economy, and the rise of democracy. Yeltsin was a controversial figure, but there is no doubt that he played a pivotal role in shaping modern Russia.

Boris Yeltsin: Former Russian President

by Andre Norton

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Early Life and Career

Boris Yeltsin was born in 1931 in the village of Butka, in the Sverdlovsk Oblast of the Russian SFSR. His parents were peasants, and he grew up in a poor family. Yeltsin was a bright and ambitious child, and he excelled in school. After graduating from high school, he attended the Ural Polytechnic Institute, where he studied civil engineering.

After graduating from the Ural Polytechnic Institute, Yeltsin worked as a construction engineer. He quickly rose through the ranks, and by the early 1970s, he was the head of the construction department of the Sverdlovsk City Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU).

Rise to Power

In 1976, Yeltsin was appointed first secretary of the Sverdlovsk City Committee of the CPSU. This was a major promotion, and it signaled Yeltsin's rise to power within the Soviet Union. Yeltsin quickly became known for his independent streak and his willingness to challenge the status quo. In 1985, he was appointed first secretary of the Moscow City Committee of the CPSU. This made him one of the most powerful men in the Soviet Union.

In 1987, Yeltsin was elected to the Politburo, the highest decision-making body of the CPSU. He quickly became a leading critic of the Soviet government's policies. In 1989, he was elected chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian SFSR, the parliament of the Russian republic. This made him the de facto leader of Russia.

Presidency

In 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed. Yeltsin was elected president of the Russian Federation in the first free elections held in Russia. He faced a number of challenges during his presidency, including the economic crisis, the Chechnya War, and the rise of organized crime. However, he also oversaw a number of important changes, including the of a market economy, the rise of democracy, and the establishment of a new constitution.

Yeltsin resigned from office in 1999. He was succeeded by Vladimir Putin.

Legacy

Boris Yeltsin was a controversial figure, but there is no doubt that he played a pivotal role in shaping modern Russia. He oversaw the collapse of the Soviet Union, the of a market economy, and the rise of democracy. He also faced a number of challenges, including the economic crisis, the Chechnya War, and the rise of organized crime. However, his legacy is one of a man who changed the course of Russian history.