The Yeltsin era is an important period in the history of modern Russia, which is still differently assessed by many historians. Some see the first president of the Russian Federation as a supporter of democratic change who liberated the country from the communist yoke, for others he is the destroyer of the Soviet Union, whose rule led to the emergence of oligarchs and the squandering of national resources. In this article, we explore the time in which Boris Nikolayevich led the country, consider the main results of this period.
Election as President of Russia
It is believed that the Yeltsin era began on June 12, 1991, when he was elected president of the RSFSR. More than 57% of voters voted for him in the elections. In absolute terms, this is more than 45.5 million people. Nikolai Ryzhkov, who was supported by the CPSU, was considered his main rival, but the opponent's result was 16.85%. The Yeltsin era began under the slogan of supporting Russian sovereignty incomposition of the Soviet Union and the fight against the privileges of the nomenklatura.
The first decree of the new president was the order on measures to develop education. It was based on the support of this sphere, a number of proposals were of a declarative nature. Much has not been fulfilled. For example, a promise to send at least 10 thousand people abroad every year for internships, training and advanced training.
The collapse of the USSR is connected with the Yeltsin era. Already on December 1, a referendum on independence was held in Ukraine. A few days later, the Russian president met in Belovezhskaya Pushcha with the new head of Ukraine, Leonid Kravchuk, and the head of the Supreme Council of Belarus, Stanislav Shushkevich. The Russian delegation presented a new project for the Union of Sovereign States, which was actively discussed at that time. It was signed despite the results of the referendum on the preservation of the USSR. At that time, the central government headed by Gorbachev was actually paralyzed, it could not oppose the heads of the republics.
The agreement was promptly ratified, already on December 25, Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev resigned, handing over the residence in the Kremlin and the nuclear suitcase to Yeltsin.
The early years
The first years of the era of Yeltsin's rule were incredibly difficult. Already in the autumn of 1991 it became obvious that the USSR was unable to pay its foreign debt. The talks ended with a demand from foreign banks to urgently move on to market reforms. At the same time, the economic program of Yegor Gaidar appeared. She isassumed price liberalization, privatization, ruble conversion, commodity intervention.
Yeltsin himself headed the government formed on November 6 until mid-1992. The starting point of the "shock therapy" was price liberalization. They were planned to be released on December 1, but the corresponding decree came into force only on January 2, 1992. The market began to fill up with consumer goods, and the monetary policy of issuing money provoked hyperinflation. Real pensions and wages fell, and living standards plummeted. It was only in 1993 that these processes were stopped.
One of Yeltsin's first important decisions was the decree on free trade. This document actually legalized entrepreneurship. A lot of people were engaged in petty trading on the street. It was also decided to start loans-for-shares auctions and voucher privatization, which led to the fact that most of the state property was in the hands of a limited group of people, that is, the oligarchs. Meanwhile, the country is facing massive wage arrears and a slump in production.
The political crisis has been added to the economic problems. National separatist organizations have stepped up in some regions.
Constitutional reform
The character of the Yeltsin era was democratic, as evidenced by the constitutional reform carried out. In December 1993, a referendum was held on the adoption of a new draft Constitution. Almost 58.5% of voters voted for him. The constitution was adopted.
This document provided the president with significantpowers, while the importance of Parliament has been greatly reduced.
Free speech
Telling briefly about the Yeltsin era, it should be noted that one of its distinguishing features was freedom of speech. Its symbol was the satirical program "Dolls", which was released from 1994 to 2002. It mocked popular government officials and politicians, including the president himself.
At the same time, numerous evidence has been preserved that in 1991-1993 Yeltsin controlled Russian television. Episodes of individual programs were taken off the air if they contained criticism of the president's actions.
Even officially private TV companies got it. For example, Yeltsin's associates recall that in 1994 the head of state did not like the way NTV covered the war in Chechnya. The President ordered to deal with the owner of the TV channel, Vladimir Gusinsky. Tom even had to go to London for a while.
Chechen war
For many, Russia in the Yeltsin era is associated with the war in Chechnya. Problems in this Caucasian republic began as early as 1991, when the rebellious general Dzhokhar Dudayev proclaimed an independent Ichkeria. Soon, separatist sentiments flourished in Chechnya.
At the same time, a unique situation developed: Dudayev did not pay taxes to the federal budget, forbade intelligence officers from entering the territory of the republic, but at the same time continued to receive subsidies from the treasury. Until 1994, Chechnya continued to receive oil, whichwas not paid at all. Moreover, Dudayev resold it abroad. Moscow supported the anti-Dudaev opposition, but did not interfere in the conflict until a certain point. At the same time, a civil war actually began in the republic.
In November 1994, the opposition, with the support of Russian special services, attempted to storm Grozny, which failed. After that, Yeltsin decided to send troops into Chechnya. The Kremlin officially called the subsequent events the restoration of constitutional order.
Assessing the nature and results of the Yeltsin era, many note that it was one of the most disastrous decisions, both the plan and its implementation were unsuccessful. Ill-considered actions led to a large number of casu alties among the civilian population and the military. Tens of thousands of people died.
In August 1996, federal troops were driven out of Grozny. After that, the Khasavyurt agreements were signed, which were considered by many as a betrayal.
Second presidential term
In 1996, Yeltsin defeated communist Gennady Zyuganov in the second round, despite the failed starting positions. After the end of the campaign, he was turned off for a long time from government, as his he alth was severely undermined. Even the inauguration was held on a reduced program.
Politicians who financed or led the election campaign began to lead the state. Chubais received the post of head of the presidential administration, first deputy chairmanPrime Minister Vladimir Potanin, and Boris Berezovsky - Deputy Secretary of the Security Council.
In November, Yeltsin underwent coronary artery bypass surgery. At that time, Chernomyrdin acted as president. The President returned to leadership of the state only in 1997.
Premier leapfrog
This time was marked by the signing of a decree on the denomination of the ruble, negotiations with the Chechen leader Maskhadov. In the spring of 1998, the Chernomyrdin government was dismissed, and Sergei Kiriyenko was appointed prime minister on the third attempt.
In August 1998, two days after Yeltsin's confident statement that there would be no devaluation of the ruble, it did happen. The Russian currency depreciated four times. Kiriyenko's government dismissed.
On August 21, the majority of the State Duma deputies suggested that the president voluntarily resign. However, he refused, and Primakov became the new prime minister in September.
In May, the impeachment proceedings were initiated by the Parliament. Five charges were brought against Yeltsin. On the eve of the vote, Primakov was fired and Stepashin was appointed in his place. None of the allegations received the required number of votes.
Stepashin did not stay long as prime minister, in August he was replaced by Vladimir Putin, whom Yeltsin officially announced as his successor. At the end of 1999, the situation worsened. Chechen fighters attacked Dagestan; residential buildings were blown up in Moscow, Volgodonsk and Buynaksk. ByAt Putin's suggestion, the president announced the start of an antiterrorist operation.
Resignation
December 31 at noon Moscow time, Boris Yeltsin announced that he was resigning from the presidency. He attributed this to his poor he alth. The head of state asked for forgiveness from all citizens of the country. It was the end of the Yeltsin era.
Acting was appointed Vladimir Putin, who on the same day addressed the Russians with a New Year's address. On the same day, a decree was signed guaranteeing Yeltsin protection from prosecution, as well as substantial material benefits for him and his family.
Public opinion
The nature of the Yeltsin era and the results of the reign of the first president of Russia continue to sum up to this day.
According to opinion polls, 40% of Russians positively assess its historical role, 41% speak negatively. At the same time, in 2000, immediately after his resignation, only 18% positively assessed him, and 67% negatively.
Estimates of the authorities
Russian authorities also assess the results of the Yeltsin era differently. It is known that in 2006, Putin said that the main achievement during the reign of the first Russian president was to provide freedom to citizens. This is his main historical merit.
In 2011, Dmitry Medvedev, then president, said that the breakthrough that the country made in the 90s should not be underestimated. Now citizens should be grateful to Yeltsin for thetransformations.
Opinions of political scientists
Political scientists emphasize that under Yeltsin, economic and political competition developed in the country, which was not there before, civil society and an independent press began to form.
At the same time, it is recognized that the transition to democracy from totalitarianism could not be painless, certain mistakes were made. In addition, there is an opinion that it is pointless to blame Yeltsin for the collapse of the USSR. It was an inevitable process, the elites in the republics have long wanted independence, a way out from under the influence of Moscow.
When Yeltsin came to power, the country's economy was in a catastrophic state. There was a shortage of everything, foreign exchange reserves were practically exhausted, oil cost about $10 per barrel. The country could not be saved from starvation without drastic measures.
Privatization has led to the emergence of world-class companies in the country.
Position of public figures and politicians
Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov, speaking about the time of Yeltsin's reign in the country, repeatedly noted that there was no democracy under him. In his opinion, he should enter the historical memory as one of the main destroyers and destroyers of the social infrastructure of the Russian state.
Politicians and public figures introduced the term "Yeltsinism". It was understood as a regime that led to the destruction of all spiritual and social values in the country.
Russia washed with blood
Evaluation of the work of the first president of Russiaare given in numerous publicistic books, articles and studies. In 2016, a book by Fyodor Razzakov was published en titled "Bandits of the Yeltsin era, or Russia washed with blood".
In this work, the author tries to answer the question, the 90s were so positive, remaining in the people's memory under the epithet "dashing". Razzakov recreates that time with amazing scrupulousness. He assures that there is no historical untruth in the book, since it is based on a real-life criminal chronicle of those years. It was compiled from all sorts of printed sources - magazines, newspapers, memoirs and memoirs.
The book "Bandits of the Yeltsin era" clearly recreates the features of that era, attempts are made to evaluate them as objectively as possible.
