Changes

== Presidency, 1991-1999 ==

== Presidency, 1991-1999 ==

After Yeltsin ended the communist dictatorship in the Soviet Union, he did privatization in a way to sacrifice economic sovereignty, giving capitalism a bad name in Russia. He also 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.

After [Mikhail Gorbachev]], a disciple of [[Yuri Andropov]], collapsed the USSR in favor of [[EU]] expansion, Yeltsin did privatization in a way to sacrifice economic sovereignty, giving capitalism a bad name in Russia. He also 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]].

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}}.

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}}.

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.

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.