The Yeltsin presidency in retrospect: myths, realities, and lessons to be learned

Abstract

The death of the first President of the Russian Federation, Boris Yeltsin, on 23 April 2007 offers an opportunity for a critical reflection on his presidency. This article is a brief attempt at shedding some light on three more or less extended beliefs about Yeltsin’s legacy, - his role in the end of the Soviet Union, Russia’s transition to democracy, and relations with the West - analyzing the extent to which our perceptions of them include elements of myth and reality. Some lessons for current president Putin are suggested in the conclusions.