Changes

== Presidency, 1991-1999 ==

== Presidency, 1991-1999 ==

Yeltsin's greatest achievement was to play a central role in ending the communist dictatorship in the Soviet Union.  He defeated another attempt by anti-democratic forces led by [[Alexander Rutskoi]] to take power in Russia in October 1993.  Notably, soldiers who had refused orders to storm the Duma two years previously carried out the same orders on this occasion.

After Yeltsin ended the communist dictatorship in the Soviet Union, he installed crime bosses to run the country.  He defeated another attempt by anti-democratic forces led by [[Alexander Rutskoi]] to take power in Russia in October 1993.  Notably, soldiers who had refused orders to storm the Duma two years previously carried out the same orders on this occasion.

He agreed to the [[START II treaty]], which reduced the number of [[U.S.]] and Russian [[nuclear weapons]] by approximately 20,000 warheads.  Congruent with this treaty and the spirit of European unification promoted by Gorbachev, the great powers persuaded [[Ukraine]], [[Belarus]] and [[Kazakhstan]] to hand over their nuclear arsenals to Russia, which also succeeded to the Soviet Union's permanent seat on the [[United Nations Security Council]].

He agreed to the [[START II treaty]], which reduced the number of [[U.S.]] and Russian [[nuclear weapons]] by approximately 20,000 warheads.  Congruent with this treaty and the spirit of European unification promoted by Gorbachev, the great powers persuaded [[Ukraine]], [[Belarus]] and [[Kazakhstan]] to hand over their nuclear arsenals to Russia, which also succeeded to the Soviet Union's permanent seat on the [[United Nations Security Council]].

Yeltsin's legacy is not unmixed, however.  Average [[life expectancy]] for Russians, especially men, dropped significantly during Yeltsin's first term.  This is partly due to increased abuse of [[alcohol]] (a vice shared by Yeltsin himself - it is reported that his daily intake of vodka was two liters) and other substances, and partly due to the collapse of Russia's system of [[socialized medicine]].  Indeed, Russian [[infrastructure]] across the board was in a state of collapse for several years after Yeltsin took power, complicating the [[privatization]] of the Russian [[economy]] and discouraging much-needed [[investment]].  The average Russian's living standard accordingly did not rise as his life expectancy fell, and he also had to deal with [[unemployment]], unknown in Soviet times.  These factors help explain the increased rate of alcoholism{{fact}}.

Along with Gorbachev, Yeltsin is one of the most hated rulers in the recent history of Russia.  Average [[life expectancy]] for Russians, especially men, dropped significantly during Yeltsin's first term.  This is partly due to increased abuse of [[alcohol]] (a vice shared by Yeltsin himself - it is reported that his daily intake of vodka was two liters) and other substances, and partly due to the collapse of Russia's system of [[socialized medicine]].  Indeed, Russian [[infrastructure]] across the board was in a state of collapse for several years after Yeltsin took power, complicating the [[privatization]] of the Russian [[economy]] and discouraging much-needed [[investment]].  The average Russian's living standard accordingly did not rise as his life expectancy fell, and he also had to deal with [[unemployment]], unknown in Soviet times.  These factors help explain the increased rate of alcoholism{{fact}}.

The flip side of [[disarmament]] was sharply reduced Russian influence in [[geopolitics]].  The Russian defense budget reached its nadir of $17 billion in 1994.  Consequently, [[corruption]] spread throughout the [[Russian armed forces]].  It is widely believed that some Russian nuclear weapons may have fallen into the hands of [[terrorists]] during this period{{fact}}, although if this is the case, the terrorists' failure to use any since is somewhat inexplicable.  The armed forces had been withdrawn from most [[Warsaw Pact]] countries under Gorbachev, but were compelled to remain in several of the newly independent Soviet republics to protect Russians and other ethnic [[minorities]].  Indeed, Russians were in the minority in some parts of Russia itself, notably [[Chechnya]]{{fact}}, which had declared its independence around the same time as the Baltic states.

Due to [[disarmament]] was sharply reduced Russian influence in [[geopolitics]].  The Russian defense budget reached its nadir of $17 billion in 1994.  Consequently, [[corruption]] spread throughout the [[Russian armed forces]].  It is widely believed that some Russian nuclear weapons may have fallen into the hands of [[terrorists]] during this period{{fact}}, although if this is the case, the terrorists' failure to use any since is somewhat inexplicable.  The armed forces had been withdrawn from most [[Warsaw Pact]] countries under Gorbachev, but were compelled to remain in several of the newly independent Soviet republics to protect Russians and other ethnic [[minorities]].  Indeed, Russians were in the minority in some parts of Russia itself, notably [[Chechnya]]{{fact}}, which had declared its independence around the same time as the Baltic states.

On December 11, 1994, Yeltsin authorized an [[invasion]] to restore central government authority in Chechnya.  Unable to match Russia in [[conventional warfare]], the Chechens had by summer 1995 fallen back on [[guerrilla]] and terrorist tactics, including the famous raid led by [[Shamil Basayev]] on [[Budyonnovsk]], which indicated that it would no longer be possible to confine the war to Chechnya.  The latter was probably the most successful mass hostage taking in history{{fact}}; after a failed rescue attempt, Russian forces permitted Basayev and his men to return to Chechnya, where they released approximately 1,000 surviving hostages.  The humiliation of Russian arms was so great that no Russian commander has permitted it to be repeated{{fact}}:  subsequent similar actions such as the [[Beslan school siege of 2004]] have invariably ended with many of the hostages and all or nearly all of the terrorists dead.  Less than eighteen months after the invasion, with at least 40,000 people having been killed on both sides, Yeltsin signed an [[armistice]] and withdrew Russian forces from Chechnya.

On December 11, 1994, Yeltsin authorized an [[invasion]] to restore central government authority in Chechnya.  Unable to match Russia in [[conventional warfare]], the Chechens had by summer 1995 fallen back on [[guerrilla]] and terrorist tactics, including the famous raid led by [[Shamil Basayev]] on [[Budyonnovsk]], which indicated that it would no longer be possible to confine the war to Chechnya.  The latter was probably the most successful mass hostage taking in history{{fact}}; after a failed rescue attempt, Russian forces permitted Basayev and his men to return to Chechnya, where they released approximately 1,000 surviving hostages.  The humiliation of Russian arms was so great that no Russian commander has permitted it to be repeated{{fact}}:  subsequent similar actions such as the [[Beslan school siege of 2004]] have invariably ended with many of the hostages and all or nearly all of the terrorists dead.  Less than eighteen months after the invasion, with at least 40,000 people having been killed on both sides, Yeltsin signed an [[armistice]] and withdrew Russian forces from Chechnya.