News / Politics
Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin Dies at 76.
Russia’s first democratically elected post-Communist president, Boris Yeltsin, has died.
Yeltsin took office in June 1991on the promises of turning the Russian economy into a capitalist market economy and spurring growth. The plan never worked and the country sank into economic disaster where unemployment and hyperinflation sent a large majority of citizens into dire poverty.
During Yeltsin’s time in office the nation was marked by widespread corruption, social upheaval, political distrust and economic instability.
Yeltsin sent Russian troops into Chechnya in December of 1994 to try and put down the forces of separatists rebels, the move ended in disaster for the Russian president and less than two years later he was forced to withdraw troops.
On New Year’s Eve, 1999 Yeltsin surprised the nation on live television when he announced his resignation and appointed his prime minister, Vladimir Putin as acting president.
Yeltsin suffered a series of health issues during and after his presidency. His death at age 76 has been attributed to heart failure.
