[GeorgefromGeorgia]

Yeltsin gave Communist and the SU the coup de grace. His fortitude and bravery should be commended. Changing Russia was a monumental task. Yeltsin had to constantly fight off the Communists, who were still very strong, and idiots like Zorinosky. The oligarchs that took control simply too advantage of the privatization. I remember that the idea was “shock therapy.” Get privatization over with quickly, so that the Commies could reverse it if they came to power. I think his major mistake was picking the Chekist, Putin as his successor.

[DesScorp]

Back in college, my Russian History prof insisted Yeltsin was a bumbling fool. Wonder what he thinks of Putin, eh?