Comments on: Boris Yeltsin Has Died

By: Michael van der GaliÃ«n

Michael van der GaliÃ«n — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 08:33:13 +0000

I agree – without Yeltsin there would be no Putin. Look back, I think it is safe to say that it would have been better if Gorbatsjov would have won the elections. He would have changed Russia slowly, which is the way to do it.

By: Rudi

Rudi — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 04:26:44 +0000

domjat Yeltsin was also seen as a puppet of the West and the “shock and awe” crowd from the World Bank. The Russians felt emasculated after the radical changes, Putin is more like the old Communists and a nationalist.

By: domajot

domajot — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 00:40:09 +0000

Yeltsin’s time as Russia’s pilot has a lot of lessons for the world, I think. In particular, it is another stark case of unintended consequences.
Because the switch to reforms, capitalism and the markets was so abrupt, it caused a lot of hardship and confusion. In a way, that was what ushered in Putin as the antidote to a chaotic state of affairs.
His US advisors were so idealistic about democracy and capitalism that they failed to consicer the consequences of an overnight shift.
Sound familiar?

By: White Agent

White Agent — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 15:40:27 +0000

See ya.

By: Yeltsin Dead « Michael P.F. van der GaliÃ«n

Yeltsin Dead « Michael P.F. van der GaliÃ«n — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 15:05:06 +0000

[...] More at The Moderate Voice (including two videos: one of Yeltsin dancing, the other… the famous “laughing scene” with Bill Clinton). [...]