Boris Yeltsin and Vladimir Putin.
The 1990s in Russia were chaotic, hopeful, and brutal all at once. The Soviet collapse brought political freedom, but also economic ruin. Millions saw their savings vanish as inflation soared. State assets were sold off in rigged auctions, creating a new class of billionaires — the oligarchs — while ordinary Russians slid into poverty.
The Yeltsin Years
Boris Yeltsin presided over a turbulent democracy. Parliament clashed with the president; in 1993, tanks shelled the Russian White House during a political crisis. Chechnya declared independence, leading to a bloody war that humiliated the Russian army and deepened public discontent.
The Rise of Putin
In 1999, Yeltsin unexpectedly resigned, naming former KGB officer Vladimir Putin as acting president. Promising order after a decade of chaos, Putin won election in 2000. His early years coincided with a surge in oil prices, fueling economic growth and restoring a sense of stability.
Consolidation of Power
Putin moved quickly to centralize authority. Independent television networks were taken over by the state; regional governors lost their autonomy; political opponents were sidelined or prosecuted. The second war in Chechnya was waged with brutal efficiency, crushing separatism but leaving a legacy of repression.
Further Reading:
Anna Politkovskaya – Putin’s Russia (2004)
Masha Gessen – The Man Without a Face (2012)
Fiona Hill & Clifford Gaddy – Mr. Putin (2013)
David E. Hoffman – The Oligarchs (2002)