Boris Yeltsin, the first democratically elected president in Russian history, made a strong impression on Coloradans in 1997 when Denver hosted the Summit of the Eight.
The Denver summit was the first time that the Group of Seven industrialized nations was officially expanded to include Russia and retitled the Group of Eight.
Yeltsin loved being in Denver, and as his motorcade passed through the streets, people shouted, “Boris, Boris.” They identified with the leader who symbolized freedom and hope. In addition to his official duties, Russia’s president enjoyed a full social schedule, including dinner at The Fort, and he convened a business meeting at the Museum of Natural History with American CEOs, where he proclaimed, “I want to emphatically state that Russia welcomes foreign investment. America is our natural partner in developing opportunities in Russia to benefit both sides.”
Yeltsin’s death on April 23 marked the end of an era. More than 25,000 mourners filed by as he lay in state at Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow. The ceremonies dramatically underscored how far Russia has come since 1991, when Yeltsin came to power with 57 percent of the popular vote.
Yeltsin goes down in history as a controversial political leader during a tumultuous period in Russia history. Following the breakup of the Soviet Union and the collapse of an empire built since the October Revolution in 1917, Yeltsin surged to power following the weary years of communism with expectations of freedom, prosperity, stability and change.
The world remembers the image of Yeltsin mounting a Soviet army tank to mobilize Moscow against a communist coup attempt. In this moment of glory, he stopped the insurgence dead in its tracks, thereby preventing a return to communism.
There was change, indeed, but radical economic reforms of “shock therapy” – a liberalization program pushed by Yegor Gaidar which eliminated price controls and cut state spending, ushered in nearly a decade of decline. Standards of living dropped severely, Russia’s gross domestic product plunged 50 percent and there was unemployment, topped off by the financial crisis of 1998. There was constant, unpredictable, tumultuous political change. Entire cabinets were fired and replaced at whim. In the power vacuum, a new oligarchic class would loot state- owned industry, buying it up for virtually pennies, and creating a new wealthy monopoly class at the expense of the majority. But for all of that, it was a heady, exciting time, like the American Wild West at the turn of the century.
Yeltsin’s policies, no matter how inadequate, laid the basis for future growth. He lived to see Russia’s resurgence, with it strong economy. Its current growth rate is over 7 percent for the second year in a row. It boasts one of the best performing stock markets in the world, and a growing middle class with disposable income, accounting for a stunning growth in consumer-goods consumption and personal income growth. He was able to witness the growth of law and order, the stabilization of the political system and the growth of rule of law, which, while far from perfect, has evolved considerably.
The darkest moments of his rule came in October 1993, when he called out tanks to shell the Russian White House to crush a rebellion and many were killed, and his decision to launch a bloody and costly military campaign in Chechnaya.
Yeltsin consistently valued relations with the United States, and enjoyed a strong personal relationship with President Bill Clinton. They enjoyed warm and engaging personal ties based on respect and understanding, much like that between President Bush and President Putin today.
As tributes to his unique contribution to Russian history will attest, he was a colorful and charismatic personality who introduced the foundations of change and opened up Russia to a new world of politics and economics. He stunned the world when on Dec. 31, 1999, he announced his resignation. “I want to beg forgiveness for your dreams that never came true. And also I would like to beg forgiveness not to have justified your hopes.”
His passing symbolizes one chapter closed and the opening of a new chapter that lays ahead for Russia.
Deborah A. Palmieri is newly appointed honorary consul general of the Russian Federation in Colorado.
This guest commentary has been corrected in this online archive. Originally, due to an editing error, it incorrectly listed a date for the G8 summit in Denver. The summit was in 1997.
