Who was the president of the USSR and the Russian Federation. reference

Boris Yeltsin (02/01/1931 – 04/23/2007) - Soviet and Russian politician, statesman.

In 1991, he became the first president of Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Conducted a number of reforms in the political and economic structure of the country.

Youth

Boris Nikolaevich was born in the village of Butka, Ural Region (currently Sverdlovsk Region). According to another version, in the neighboring village of Basmanovskoye. The parents were from dispossessed peasants. Yeltsin’s father served exile at the construction site of the Volga-Don Canal until 1937, and after his release he continued to work in construction. Mother was a seamstress.

Yeltsin spent his childhood in Berezniki, Perm region. At school he was a successful student and head boy. At the same time, he had behavioral problems and often took part in fights. After studying for seven years, he was expelled from school due to a conflict with a teacher who abused children. However, he was able to achieve the opportunity to continue his education at another high school.

For unknown reasons, Boris lost two fingers and one phalanx in his youth. One of the suspected reasons is injury from a grenade explosion. Because of this shortcoming, Yeltsin did not serve in the army. Higher education received from the construction department of the Sverdlovsk Polytechnic University. In his diploma work wrote about the television tower. As a student, he was fond of sports, was on the city volleyball team, and was a master of sports.

Young B. Yeltsin

Party life

After graduating from university, Yeltsin was assigned to the Uraltyazhtrubstroy trust association. Here he worked at various construction sites, later becoming a site manager. In 1961 he joined the ranks of the CPSU, two years later he became chief engineer. In 1966, he took the position of head of the Sverdlovsk house-building plant and worked there for two years.

Since 1968, he transferred to party work, becoming the head of the construction department at the regional committee of the CPSU. In 1975, he was appointed secretary of the regional committee, in this position he was responsible for the industrial sector of the Sverdlovsk region. In 1976, actual power over the entire region passed to him in connection with his appointment to the post of first secretary of the regional committee.

Young Yeltsin was very purposeful, tried to develop his own career, and readily carried out all the tasks set by top management. As regional head, he ensured the construction of roads, farms, the relocation of citizens from barracks to apartments, and obtained permission to build a metro in Sverdlovsk. At the same time, Yeltsin was awarded the military rank of colonel.

Yeltsin - head of the Sverdlovsk regional committee, 1970s

From 1979 to 1989 he was a deputy of the Supreme Council. From 1981 to 1990 - member of the CPSU Central Committee. He was transferred to the capital in 1985 after M. Gorbachev came to power. In Moscow he became the head of the construction department of the Central Committee. At the end of the year, Yeltsin was appointed first secretary of the Moscow City Committee. Having started work with enthusiasm, he cleaned up the ranks of the capital's leaders and personally inspected many warehouses and retail outlets. Organized fairs and determined the celebration of City Day.

In 1987, he openly criticized party leaders in his speeches. This behavior caused a response, and the question of Yeltsin’s removal from office arose. Boris Nikolaevich was forced to admit his mistake and apologize; he was hospitalized due to heart problems. He nevertheless lost his position as first secretary, but remained in the ranks of the party.

Early 90s

In 1990, Boris Nikolaevich became chairman of the Supreme Council. In this post, he again begins to oppose the party leadership and increases his own power after the introduction of the sovereignty of the RSFSR. This was followed by the distribution of sovereignty to the autonomous republics and some regions of the country.

In 1991, Yeltsin was elected president of the RSFSR. After the GKChP putsch in August, Gorbachev practically lost power; it was transferred to the presidents of the Union Republics. Yeltsin abolished communist party. This was followed by the collapse of the Soviet Union, the creation of the CIS, and the resignation of Gorbachev. This is how Boris Nikolaevich found himself at the pinnacle of power in the country.

B. Yeltsin takes over as President of the RSFSR, 1991

To pay off debts, the new government led by the president had to carry out a number of reforms (“shock therapy”), including: privatization, price liberalization, and free trade. These measures caused a severe economic crisis, a drop in the standard of living of the population, hyperinflation, and non-payment of wages and benefits. There have also been attempts in the regions to secede from the country.

At the end of 1992, a political crisis followed and an unsuccessful attempt was made to impeach the president. In 1993, the Supreme Council and the Congress of People's Deputies were dissolved. After this, the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Council decide to remove Yeltsin from office. But he was not going to retreat, an armed confrontation began, as a result of which hundreds of people were killed and injured. After this, constitutional reform followed, and the Federal Assembly began to work.

Second presidential term

The 1996 elections were not initially part of Yeltsin's plans. He changed his decision due to the growing influence of the Communist Party. Due to the consequences of economic reforms and the Chechen conflict, his popularity among the people fell sharply. The main rival was the communist leader G. Zyuganov.

The presidential election campaign was very intense, thanks to which Yeltsin’s rating is growing and he wins in two rounds. At the same time, he has serious problems with health, which he carefully hides from voters. In his second term, he redenominated the ruble and signed a peace agreement with Chechnya. He underwent heart surgery.

Yeltsin with his successor V. Putin

In 1998-1999, the President dismissed the Government five times, each time appointing new chairmen. The last to be appointed was V. Putin, and also declared Yeltsin’s successor. The State Duma unsuccessfully tried several times to remove the head of state from office. In 1999, Yeltsin resigned, announcing this in his New Year's address.

After resignation

Having dropped out of the political game, Yeltsin remained interested in the state of affairs in power for a long time, until, on Putin’s recommendation, ministers stopped visiting the former president. In 2000 he opened a charitable foundation. He lived with his family at a state dacha in Barvikha near Moscow. Since 1956, he was married and had two daughters, as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He loved spending time with his family.

After becoming a pensioner, Yeltsin continued to work on his memoirs. He often attended theatrical performances, especially at Sovremennik, tennis matches, and read a lot. Shortly before his death he traveled to Jordan. The cause of the death of the first president was long-standing heart problems. The funeral was held solemnly, with live broadcast on central television channels.

Yeltsin with his family

The attitude towards Yeltsin and his actions has always been ambiguous. Criticism mainly relates to his economic innovations, which led to the decline of the economic sector and a deterioration in the quality of life. Yeltsin's supporters point to the difficult times in which he came to power and the need to make difficult decisions.

Yeltsin was awarded the title of honorary citizen of Kazan, Sverdlovsk and Samara regions, Armenia, Turkmenistan. He was the recipient of many awards, including foreign countries. The following are named after the first Russian president:

• one of the central streets of Yekaterinburg;
• Ural Technical University;
• a street in the village of Butka, where Yeltsin was born;
• library in St. Petersburg;
• Kyrgyz-Russian University;
• Pamir mountain peak.

Monuments to him were erected in Yekaterinburg and Kyrgyzstan, and seven documentaries about his life were released.

All his ancestors have roots from here - grandfather Ignat Yeltsin, parents - Nikolai Ignatievich and Klavdia Vasilievna. They are all Russian and even several generations old. The version of Jewish origin was developed precisely from the grandfather, who was recorded under the surname “Yeltsin” - the absence of a soft sign prompted historians to look for a Jewish origin in this whole story. It was also possible to establish that in the 18th century. Under the same surname there was another paternal ancestor - Sergei Yeltsin. All this has prompted historians to study Yeltsin's genealogy over several generations.

Jewish roots - myth or truth?

In the early 90s, a theory appeared that Boris Nikolaevich’s uncle was a Jew, Eltsin Boris Moiseevich. Many tried to prove their relationship. For this purpose, several representatives of the all-Russian movement went to the Yeltsins’ homeland to interview live local residents and bring up the archives. The FSB hindered the search in every possible way, so the group returned back with nothing. Although there is a very low probability that they could confirm their version. In her historical works, M.E. Bychkova completely refuted the Jewish theory, arguing that there were no Jews in the family of Boris Nikolaevich and there could not have been. The famous historian D. Panov claims that already in 1921 a soft sign appeared in Yeltsin’s surname, as evidenced by the official questionnaires of immigrants who went to the Urals in search of work. Among them were the ancestors of B.N. Yeltsin. According to the census data, there were no Jews among them. The Yeltsin family firmly established itself in the Urals, where the future president was born, graduated from college and began building his career.

Trying to prove Yeltsin’s Jewish origins, biographers subsequently switched to his legal wife. And there was something to catch on here. Anastasia Girina was a classmate of Boris Nikolaevich. At school and at home they called her Naya - it was this fact that seemed suspicious and became the reason to rummage through her biography. Although at that time there were no official statements about Naina Iosifovna’s Jewish genes. A serious argument was the confession of Yeltsin’s mother; she told reporters that Naina Yeltsin was indeed Jewish. But this is the story of the next generation and it has nothing to do with the origins of Boris Nikolaevich.

It is known that many facts about the biography of political figures of that time were hidden. But regarding Yeltsin, this was only information about the repressions to which his ancestors were subjected. No more. Therefore, on the basis of officially proven facts, it can be argued that Boris Nikolaevich belongs to the Russian nation. Although the study of the genealogical tree of the Yeltsin family continues. Who knows, maybe over time facts about other roots will emerge.

Boris Yeltsin was the first President of Russia. He was a strong leader, although he made many tactical blunders in his position. For eight years this man led a huge country and tried to lead it out of the crisis.

Job in Moscow

In 1968, Boris Yeltsin began his party career. A graduate of the Ural Polytechnic named after Kirov became the head of the construction department. Success in political service provided him with a quick breakthrough in his career. In 1984, Boris Nikolaevich was already a member of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. From 1985-1987 served as First Secretary of the Moscow City Committee of the CPSU.

In 1987, at the plenum of the Supreme Council, he criticized the activities of the current leader Mikhail Gorbachev. He was demoted to the position of deputy head of Gosstroy. In 1989, Yeltsin became a people's deputy of the USSR Supreme Council.

In 1990, he became Chairman of the Supreme Council of the RSFSR.

1991 presidential election

On March 17, 1991, a referendum was held in the USSR. On the agenda were the issue of introducing the post of president and the item on maintaining the status of the USSR. Purposeful and uncompromising Boris Yeltsin decided to run as a candidate for the presidency. His competitors in this race were pro-government candidate Nikolai Ryzhkov and Vladimir Zhirinovsky.

On June 12, 1991, the first presidential elections. B. N. Yeltsin was elected by a majority of votes. The reign of the first leader of Russia was originally supposed to be 5 years. Since the country was in a deep political and economic crisis, no one knew how long real life the new president will remain in office. A. Rutskoy was elected vice-president. He and Yeltsin were supported by the Democratic Russia bloc.

On July 10, 1991, Boris Yeltsin took an oath to serve his people faithfully. Mikhail Gorbachev remained the President of the USSR. Dual power did not suit the ambitious Yeltsin, although many researchers and politicians argue that the final goal of the new Russian leader was the collapse of the Union. Perhaps it was a political order that he carried out brilliantly.

August putsch

The years of Boris Yeltsin's reign were marked by significant unrest at the top of the state. Members of the CPSU did not want a change in leadership and understood that with the arrival of a new leader, the collapse of the USSR and their removal from power was not far off. Yeltsin harshly criticized the nomenklatura circles and repeatedly accused senior leaders of corruption.

Gorbachev and President Yeltsin, whose reign had been unstable, discussed the cornerstones of their cooperation and decided to eliminate the USSR politically. For this purpose, it was decided to create a confederation - the Union of Sovereign Soviet Republics. On August 20, this document was to be signed by the leaders of all union republics.

The State Emergency Committee launched active activities on August 18-21, 1991. During Gorbachev’s stay in Crimea, a temporary state body, the State Emergency Committee, was created, and a state of emergency was introduced in the country. The population was informed about this on the radio. The Democratic forces led by Yeltsin and Rutsky began to resist the old party elite.

The conspirators had some support in the army and the KGB. They pulled up some separate groups of troops to bring them into the capital. Meanwhile, President of the RSFSR Yeltsin was on a business trip. Opponents of the collapse of the Union decided to detain him upon arrival as far as possible from the White House. Other putschists decided to go to Gorbachev, convince him to introduce a state of emergency by his decree and appeal to the people.

On August 19, the media announced the resignation of M. Gorbachev for health reasons, acting. O. Gennady Yanaev was appointed president.

Yeltsin and his supporters were supported by the opposition radio Ekho Moskvy. The Alpha detachment arrived at the president's dacha, but there was no order to block him or take him into custody, so Boris Nikolaevich was able to mobilize all his supporters.

Yeltsin arrives in The White house, and local rallies begin in Moscow. Ordinary democratically minded citizens are trying to resist the State Emergency Committee. The protesters built barricades in the square and dismantled paving stones. Tanks without ammunition and 10 infantry fighting vehicles were driven to the square.

On the 21st, mass clashes began, three citizens died. The conspirators were arrested, and Boris Yeltsin, whose years of rule were tense from the very beginning, dissolved the CPSU and nationalized the party's property. The putschist plan failed.

As a result, in December 1991, secretly from M. Gorbachev, the Bialowieza Agreements were signed, putting an end to the USSR and giving rise to new independent republics.

1993 crisis

In September 1993, former comrades quarreled. B. N. Yeltsin, whose years of rule were very difficult in initial period, understood that the opposition, represented by Vice-President A. Rutsky and the Supreme Council of the RSFSR, was doing its best to slow down new economic reforms. In this regard, B. Yeltsin issued decree 1400 - on the dissolution of the Armed Forces. A decision was made to hold new elections to the Federal Assembly.

Naturally, such a monopolization of power caused protest among members of the Supreme Council. As usual, equipment was brought to the capital and people were brought out into the streets. Several attempts were made to impeach the president, but Yeltsin ignored the legislation. Supporters of the Armed Forces were dispersed, opposition leaders were arrested. As a result of the clashes, according to various sources, about 200 people were killed and more than a thousand were injured.

After the victory of B. Yeltsin and his supporters in Russia there was transition period presidential dictatorship. All government bodies connecting Russia with the USSR were liquidated.

Socio-economic reforms of B. Yeltsin

Many economists and politicians, looking back at the years of Yeltsin's rule in Russia, call his policies chaotic and stupid. There was no single clear plan. For the first few years, the state was generally in a political crisis, which eventually resulted in the 1993 coup.

Many of the ideas of the president and his supporters were promising, but in implementing them according to the old monopolized system, Yeltsin ran into many pitfalls. As a result, the reform of the state led to a protracted crisis in the economic sphere, loss of deposits from the population and complete distrust of the authorities.

The main reforms of President Yeltsin:

• price liberalization, free market;
• land reform - transfer of land into private hands;
• privatization;
• reforming political power.

First Chechen War

In 1991, the independent Republic of Ichkeria was formed on the territory of Chechnya. This state of affairs did not suit Russia. Dzhokhar Dudayev became the president of the new independent republic. The Russian Supreme Court declared the elections invalid. The victory of the separatist forces led to the collapse of the Chechen-Ingush Republic. Ingushetia decided to remain autonomous within Russia. Based on this desire, Boris Yeltsin, whose years of rule had already been washed by rivers of blood, decided to send troops during the Ossetian-Ingush conflict of 1992. Chechnya was actually an independent state, not recognized by anyone. There was actually a civil war going on in the country. In 1994, Yeltsin decided to send troops to restore order in Chechnya. People's Republic. As a result, the armed conflict with the use of Russian troops lasted two years.

Second presidential term

The second presidential term was extremely difficult for Boris Yeltsin. Firstly, constant heart problems were taking their toll, and secondly, the country was on the verge of a crisis, which the “sick” president did not have the strength to cope with. The newly elected president placed his bet on “political youth” in the person of Chubais and Nemtsov. Their active implementation of the reform course did not lead to the expected increase in GDP; the country lived off multi-billion dollar loans. In 1998, Yeltsin, whose years of rule were not successful for the state, began to look for a successor. This was the unknown head of the FSB, V. Putin.

Resignation

In 1998, B. Yeltsin’s “sand” economy collapsed. Default, price increases, job cuts, total instability, shutdown large enterprises. The virtual market economy could not withstand the harsh realities. Having chosen a worthy candidate for his post and having secured V. Putin’s commitment to a comfortable old age, the first President of Russia, speaking in front of television viewers, resigned.

His father Nikolai Ignatievich Yeltsin was a builder, mother Klavdiya Vasilievna- a dressmaker. Both of Boris Yeltsin’s grandfathers – Vasily Starygin and Ignatius Yeltsin – were middle peasants and had strong farms. During the period of collectivization they were dispossessed and exiled. In the early 30s, Yeltsin’s father and his brother Adrian (he died during the Great Patriotic War) were arrested following a denunciation and received three years in the camps. The children in the family knew nothing about their father’s arrest. For the first time, Boris Yeltsin (already as President of Russia) became acquainted with his “case,” which was kept in the KGB archives, only in 1992. In 1937, shortly after Nikolai Ignatievich Yeltsin was released, the family moved to the Perm region to build the Berezniki potash plant.

Photo:

Brothers Boris and Mikhail Yeltsin with their parents

Having successfully completed high school them. A. S. Pushkin in Berezniki, B. N. Eltsin entered the construction department of the Ural Polytechnic Institute. S. M. Kirov (now Ural federal university– UrFU named after. B.N. Yeltsin) in Sverdlovsk with a degree in industrial and civil engineering.

Boris Yeltsin's student notebooks with lecture notes

While studying, he met his future wife Naina Girina. In 1956, a year after graduation, they got married. The family remained to live in Sverdlovsk (now Yekaterinburg), where Yeltsin worked as a distribution worker in the Uraltyazhtrubstroy trust.

Archive of the Boris Yeltsin Presidential Center

Boris and Naina Yeltsin, 1950s

A certified builder, he should have received the position of foreman. However, before taking it over, Yeltsin preferred to get working professions: he worked alternately as a bricklayer, concrete worker, carpenter, carpenter, glazier, painter, plasterer, crane operator...

In 1957, a daughter, Elena, was born into the Yeltsin family, and three years later, a daughter, Tatyana.

Photo from the family archive/Archive of the Presidential Center B.N. Yeltsin

Boris Yeltsin with his daughters Tatyana and Elena

From 1957 to 1963 – foreman, senior foreman, Chief Engineer, head of the construction department of the Yuzhgorstroy trust. In 1963, Yeltsin became the chief engineer of the best house-building plant in the field (DSK), and soon became its director.

Professional achievements and organizational talent attracted B.N. Yeltsin received the attention of party organs.

In 1968, Yeltsin was appointed head of the construction department of the Sverdlovsk regional committee of the CPSU. In 1975, he was elected secretary of the Sverdlovsk regional committee of the CPSU. In 1976 - first secretary of the Sverdlovsk regional committee of the CPSU. In 1981, Boris Yeltsin became a member of the CPSU Central Committee.

Years of work as the first secretary of the Sverdlovsk regional committee of the CPSU placed B.N. Yeltsin among the most promising party leaders. The region's successes have been noted more than once by the Soviet government and the CPSU Central Committee. Boris Yeltsin’s popularity also grew among residents of the region. The years during which he led the region were marked by large-scale housing and industrial construction, construction of roads (including the Yekaterinburg-Serov highway), and intensive development of agriculture.

Archive of the Presidential Center B.N. Yeltsin

Boris Yeltsin. In production. Sverdlovsk

All these years, B.N.’s wife Yeltsina - - worked as a project manager at the Vodokanal design institute.

In 1985, B.N. Yeltsin was invited to work in Moscow, in the central apparatus of the party. Since April 1985, he has been working as the head of the Construction Department of the CPSU Central Committee, and since July of the same year - Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee for construction issues.

By this time, Yeltsin’s daughters had graduated from universities. Elena - Ural Polytechnic Institute, majoring in civil and industrial engineering, Tatyana - Faculty of Computational Mathematics and Cybernetics, Moscow State University. In 1979, the first granddaughter appeared in the Yeltsin family - Elena had a daughter, Katya. And in 1982, Tatyana’s first son was born - the full namesake of his grandfather, Boris Yeltsin. A year later, Elena gave birth to Masha.

In December 1985, B.N. Yeltsin headed the Moscow City Party Committee and in a short time gained enormous popularity in various strata of society. His working style was sharply different from the traditional apparatus command-administrative style to which Muscovites were accustomed during the years of Brezhnev's stagnation. However, the party elite treated the energetic Moscow secretary with caution. Yeltsin faced opposition from old party cadres - in such conditions it was extremely difficult to work effectively in a high position.

In September 1987, Yeltsin sent a letter to the General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee M.S. Gorbachev with a request to release him from his post as a candidate member of the Politburo. The letter contained criticism of party orthodoxies, who, according to Yeltsin, were slowing down the perestroika begun by Gorbachev. However, Gorbachev did not respond to the letter. In this situation, Yeltsin decided to make a statement at the October (1987) plenum of the CPSU Central Committee. During this speech, he essentially repeated the main points set out in his letter to Gorbachev. The reaction to the harsh speech at that time was unambiguous: party functionaries subjected him to severe criticism, the position of B.N. Yeltsin and his assessments were “politically erroneous.” The result of the discussion was a recommendation to the next plenum of the Moscow City Committee of the CPSU to consider the feasibility of B.N.’s stay. Yeltsin as First Secretary of the Moscow City Committee.

In November 1987, B.N. Yeltsin was relieved of his post as first secretary of the Moscow City Committee of the CPSU, and in February 1988 he was removed from the list of candidates for membership in the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee and appointed first deputy chairman of the USSR State Construction Committee. He worked in this position until mid-1989. “I won’t let you into politics anymore,” Gorbachev told him.

In 1988, Yeltsin spoke at the 19th Party Conference with a request for “political rehabilitation,” but again did not meet with support from the leadership of the CPSU.

Opala B.N. Yeltsin, unexpectedly for the country's leadership, led to an increase in his popularity. Yeltsin’s speech at the October Plenum was not published, but numerous versions of it circulated in samizdat, most of which had nothing in common with the original.

In 1989 B.N. Yeltsin participates in the elections of people's deputies of the USSR. He is running in Moscow and receives 91.5% of the vote. At the First Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR (May–June 1989), he became a member of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and at the same time co-chairman of the opposition Interregional Deputy Group (MDG).

In May 1990, at a meeting of the First Congress of People's Deputies of the RSFSR, Yeltsin was elected Chairman of the Supreme Council of the RSFSR.

Boris Yeltsin accepts congratulations on his appointment as Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR

Statement by the Chairman of the Supreme Council of the RSFSR B.N. Yeltsin on leaving the CPSU at the XXVIII Congress of the CPSU (July 12, 1990)

Gosteleradio

Text of Boris Yeltsin's speech at a press conference on his election as Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR (May 30, 1990)

Archive of the Presidential Center B.N. Yeltsin

On June 12, 1990, it was he who put the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Russia to a roll-call vote at the congress. It was adopted by an overwhelming majority of votes (“for” – 907, “against” – 13, abstentions – 9).

In July 1990, at the XXVIII (last) Congress of the CPSU, Boris Yeltsin left the party.

June 12, 1991 B.N. Yeltsin was elected the first president of the RSFSR, gaining 57% of the vote (the closest rivals received: N.I. Ryzhkov - 17%, V.V. Zhirinovsky - 8%).

Inauguration of the President of the RSFSR. Boris Yeltsin takes the oath.

Ceremony of taking the oath of office by the President of the Russian Federation B.N. Yeltsin and his speech at the Extraordinary V Congress of People's Deputies of the RSFSR

Gosteleradio

In July 1991, he signed a decree to terminate the activities of organizational structures political parties and mass social movements in government bodies, institutions and organizations of the RSFSR.

On August 19, a coup attempt was carried out in the USSR: USSR President Gorbachev was removed from power, and the State Committee for a State of Emergency (GKChP) came to govern the country. Russian President and his like-minded people became the center of resistance to the State Emergency Committee. B.N. Yeltsin made an “Address to the Citizens of Russia,” where he stated, in particular, the following: “We believe that such forceful methods are unacceptable. They discredit the USSR before the whole world, undermine our prestige in the world community, and return us to the era cold war and isolation of the Soviet Union. All this forces us to declare the so-called committee (GKChP) that came to power illegal. Accordingly, we declare all decisions and orders of this committee illegal.” The decisive and precise actions of the Russian leadership destroyed the plans of the putschists. Relying on the support of the people and the army, B. N. Yeltsin managed to save the country from the consequences of a large-scale provocation that brought Russia to the brink civil war.

August 1991 coup. Boris Yeltsin addresses the people

On August 23, 1991, at a session of the Supreme Council of the RSFSR, B.N. Yeltsin signed a decree on the dissolution of the Communist Party of the RSFSR, and on November 6 of the same year he issued a decree on the termination of the activities of the structures of the CPSU and the Communist Party of the RSFSR in Russia and the nationalization of their property.

On November 15, 1991, Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin headed the Russian government, which remained in history as the first government of reforms. After forming a new cabinet, he signed a package of ten presidential decrees and government orders that outlined concrete steps towards a market economy. Implementing his new powers, the president appointed the first deputy prime minister responsible for developing a new economic concept Russian reform, Yegor Timurovich Gaidar.

On December 8, 1991, Boris Yeltsin, together with and signed the Belovezhskaya Agreement of the heads of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine on the liquidation of the USSR and the formation of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

At the end of the year, the Russian President approved a decree on price liberalization from January 2, 1992. In January 1992, the decree “On Free Trade” was also signed.

In June 1992, Yeltsin terminated his powers as Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation and assigned the duties of Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation to Yegor Gaidar. The cabinet began a decisive market reform and privatization of state property.

Photo: Alexey Sazonov / Archive of the Presidential Center B.N. Yeltsin

Moscow. Forum of reform supporters. Boris Yeltsin and Yegor Gaidar. November 29, 1992

During 1992, the confrontation between the legislative and executive powers grew, which is often called the “crisis of dual power.” Formally, it was based on contradictions in the constitutional system of Russia, but in fact, it was dissatisfaction on the part of the parliament with the reforms carried out by President Yeltsin’s team.

December 10, 1992 B.N. Yeltsin made an appeal to the citizens of Russia, in which he called the Congress of People's Deputies the main stronghold of conservatism, placing on it the main responsibility for the difficult situation in the country and accusing it of preparing a “creeping coup.” The Supreme Council, the president emphasized, wants to have all the powers and rights, but does not want to bear responsibility.

March 20, 1993 B.N. Yeltsin signed a decree calling a referendum on confidence in the President of the Russian Federation on April 25, 1993.

The All-Russian referendum took place on time. The Russians were asked the following questions:

• Do you trust Russian President Boris Yeltsin?
• Do you approve of the social policy pursued by the President of the Russian Federation and
• Government of the Russian Federation since 1992?
• Do you consider it necessary to hold early elections of the President of the Russian Federation?
• Do you consider it necessary to hold early elections of people's deputies of the Russian Federation?

Archive of the Presidential Center B.N. Yeltsin

There were 107 million citizens on the electoral rolls. 64.5% of voters took part in the referendum. The main result of the referendum was support for the course pursued by President Yeltsin. However, confrontation with parliament grew.

On September 21, 1993, the decree “On phased constitutional reform in the Russian Federation” (decree No. 1400) was promulgated, which dissolved the Supreme Council and the Congress of People's Deputies of the Russian Federation. The President scheduled elections to the State Duma, the lower house of the Federal Assembly, for December 11–12, 1993. The Federation Council was declared the upper house of the Federal Assembly.

The Supreme Council assessed the Presidential Decree as illegal and began a resistance campaign. An attempt was made to take over the Moscow City Hall and the Ostankino television center.

The country was on the brink of civil war. As a result of decisive actions by the presidential team and support from democratically minded Muscovites, the crisis was resolved. However, during the October events, more than 150 people died on both sides, most of the dead were bystanders.

The adoption of the new Constitution and the elections on December 12, 1993 significantly improved the atmosphere in society and opened up the opportunity for all branches of government to focus on constructive work.

In February 1994, the president called on the government to strengthen the social orientation of reforms. The consistent efforts of the president led to the appearance in April 1994 of an important document - the “Treaty on Social Accord”, which became a tool for consolidating power, political elite and society in the interests of creating favorable conditions for continuing reforms.

Along with complex economic problems, problems of federal relations came to the fore. In particular, the situation around the Chechen Republic developed dramatically. Negative consequences her stay outside the legal framework of Russia under the Dudayev regime was obvious. At the end of 1994, the Russian leadership began armed actions on the territory of Chechnya - the first Chechen war began.

The development of the special operation in Chechnya into a military campaign and the difficulties of socio-economic development affected the results of the State Duma elections in December 1995, as a result of which the Communist Party of the Russian Federation doubled its representation. There was a real threat of communist revenge. In this situation, the presidential elections scheduled for June 1996, in which eight candidates applied to participate, assumed great importance. Surrounded by B.N. Yeltsin turned out to have people who persuaded him in this situation to postpone the elections. However, this plan was not supported by the president. The difficult election campaign of 1996 began.

The President carried out a decisive reorganization of the Cabinet of Ministers, which in January 1996 began to develop a new program of change.

In January–April 1996, the president signed a series of decrees aimed at timely payment of wages to employees budgetary sphere, compensation payments pensioners, increased scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students. Energetic steps were taken to resolve the Chechen problem (from the development of a plan for a peaceful settlement to a scheme for the liquidation of Dudayev and the cessation of military operations). The signing of agreements between Russia and Belarus, as well as between Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, demonstrated the seriousness of integration intentions in the post-Soviet space.

The President made 52 trips to various regions of the Russian Federation, including to intensify the conclusion of bilateral agreements between federal center and subjects of the federation.

The first round of elections did not bring victory to the president: his main opponent, leader of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation G.A., entered the second round along with him. Zyuganov. And only based on the results of the second round. Which took place on July 3, 1996 B.N. Yeltsin won with 53.8% of the vote (the Communist Party candidate received 40.3%).

Text of the speech upon taking office as President of the Russian Federation; text of the oath of the President of the Russian Federation; covering note from L.Pikhoy

Archive of the Presidential Center B.N. Yeltsin

Presidential Marathon - 96 rendered big influence on the socio-economic and political situation in Russia. The election victory made it possible to relieve social tensions and continue moving towards a market economy. The strengthening of the democratic foundations of the constitutional system was continued, the foundations were laid legislative framework market economy, labor markets, goods, currency, and securities began to function. However, the situation in Chechnya remained difficult, where hostilities began again after the presidential elections. In this regard, the President authorized negotiations on August 22 and 30, 1996 in Khasavyurt, which ended with the signing of important documents. According to the agreements, the parties stopped fighting, federal troops were withdrawn from Chechnya, and the decision on the status of Chechnya was postponed until 2001.

However, the nervous overload experienced by B.N. Yeltsin everything last years, had a negative impact on his health. Doctors insisted on coronary artery bypass surgery - open heart surgery. Despite persuasion, B.N. Yeltsin decided to have the operation in Russia. The operating surgeon was Renat Akchurin, who was advised by American cardiac surgeon Michael DeBakey. Yeltsin announced the upcoming operation on federal television and for the duration of it transferred power to Prime Minister V.S. Chernomyrdin. The operation was successful and after a short rehabilitation the president returned to work.

The date of birth of Boris Nikolaevich Yeltsin is February 1, 1931. Yeltsin lived a bright and eventful life, and through his political actions had a huge influence on changing the morally outdated Russian foundations. He managed to make even his death an unforgettable event for millions of people, not only in Russia, but throughout the world. It is he who must be thanked for starting work on the formation of such a monumental power as the Russian Federation, which allowed it to occupy a level on par with the most outstanding world countries and proudly maintain the status of a leader. In our article today we will trace the biography of the first president of the Russian Federation.

The influence of family on Yeltsin's early years

In 1931, no one could have imagined that the birth of a boy in a simple peasant family would mark the beginning of a new stage in the development of Russia. Yeltsin's biography during his life was supplemented by many significant moments, each of which influenced the further formation of his personality.

Despite the fact that Boris was born in the village of Butka (Sverdlovsk region, Talitsky district), his childhood years were spent in the Perm region, in Berezniki. Yeltsin's father, Nikolai Ignatievich, came from a kulak background and actively supported the overthrown tsarist government, constantly speaking out with anti-Soviet propaganda, for which he went to prison in 1934, served his sentence and was released. Although the imprisonment was short-lived, Boris was never able to get close to his father. His mother, Claudia Vasilyevna Yeltsina (before Starygin’s marriage), was much closer to him. She, in fact, took on all the family burdens, combining parental duties with the daily work of sewing clothes.

In his youth, Yeltsin actively helped his parents. The father's arrest was a heavy blow to the family's budget. After the communists came to power and mass repressions began in the country, my father, who was in prison at that time, had to work hard. After his release, he remained to work at a local factory, and the family's affairs gradually began to improve. Since Boris turned out to be the eldest in the family, he had to grow up early, taking on some of the worries aimed at earning money and caring for his younger brother and sister.

Despite this, Yeltsin's characterization was far from positive. Starting from an early age, Boris began to show his character. Even during baptism, he managed to slip out of the hands of the priest performing the ceremony and fall into the font. At school, he fought for the rights of his classmates with a teacher who forced children to resort to violence more often than they were supposed to. physical labor, namely, to plow her garden, and for failure to follow orders she beat the children.

Having entered the period of his youth, Boris got involved in a fight, where his nose was broken by a shaft, but, as it turned out, this was not all the trouble that awaited Yeltsin. Having an ebullient temperament and being a very difficult teenager, he was able to steal a grenade from a nearby military warehouse and decided to study its contents, unable to think of anything better than breaking it with a stone. As a result of such actions, an explosion occurred, in which he lost two fingers on his right hand and acquired another negative experience, because with such an injury he was not allowed to serve in the army.

Studying at the institute and choosing a profession

A turbulent childhood did not prevent me from enrolling in the Faculty of Civil Engineering. The choice fell on the Ural Polytechnic Institute, where Boris Nikolaevich Yeltsin acquired his first specialty as a civil engineer, which did not prevent him from subsequently mastering many more blue-collar professions, some of which are noted in work book. During his youth, he was able to climb the career ladder from a foreman to the head of the Sverdlovsk house-building plant, which characterized him as an extremely purposeful person. Boris met his future wife Naina at the same university. The couple began to communicate closely, and soon after graduation they got married.

During his student years, Boris was actively involved in sports, and in particular volleyball, thanks to which he managed to receive the title of Master of Sports, of which he was very proud.

Married life

Naina Yeltsina (Girina) was born on March 14, 1932 in the village of Titovka (Orenburg region) and lived in a happy marriage with Boris from 1956 to 2007, during which she bore him two daughters - Elena and Tatyana.

Her family was very large (4 brothers and a sister) and deeply religious, so special attention was paid to raising children. The years of Yeltsin’s life were marked by both ups and downs, but throughout her marriage, Naina was always next to her husband, acutely experiencing all his ups and downs, providing her husband with a reliable rear. Even people who did not welcome the activities of Boris Yeltsin always paid tribute to the tact and sincerity of his wife.

At the age of 25, Naina decides to make the first changes in her life, changes her name and, accordingly, her passport. At birth, her parents gave her the name Anastasia, however, when the girl entered the service, the official address “Anastasia Iosifovna” constantly hurt her ears, which she could not and did not want to get used to.

Yeltsin’s rich biography had a certain influence on her. After getting married, she not only did not quit her job, but also continued to improve her professional skills. After graduating from the institute, she received a specialty as a civil engineer and worked until her retirement at the Vodokanalproekt Institute, located in Sverdlovsk. Making her way up the career ladder, she, like her husband, starting from the very bottom, was able to achieve appointment as the head of the institute group.

Awards received:

• International Oliver Award.
• National Prize of Russia "Olympia". Awarded for outstanding achievements of contemporaries in politics, business, science, art and culture.

Active activities

Construction work provided the basis for the complex technique of commanding people that Yeltsin often used as he climbed the career ladder. Years of hard work made significant adjustments to his life. Having become accustomed to frequent drinking of alcohol at a construction site, he treated it as something ordinary. In particular, this was most noticeable in his behavior on vacation. After joining the party, he repeatedly went on vacation to various sanatoriums, where he often entertained party comrades by drinking a glass of vodka like compote. Despite this, since the age of 37, Yeltsin has been involved in party work, receiving the status of head of a department with a subsequent promotion to secretary of the regional party committee.

In his youth, Yeltsin tried to spend the dates of all Russian holidays in Sverdlovsk, arranging informal meetings with workers. Could unexpectedly come to a store, grocery store or enterprise and arrange there unscheduled inspection, because thanks to his position, he essentially became the first leader of the largest industrial region of the USSR, gradually gaining the trust of people as a politician who does everything for his people.

Rapid approach to fame

The rapidity with which Yeltsin’s biography changed could not go unnoticed by the then leader of the USSR, Mikhail Gorbachev, who began to carefully look at the stages of his political career.

While in the position of first secretary of the regional committee in Sverdlovsk, Boris Yeltsin began to analyze the affairs that his predecessor had handled, and among the papers he discovered an order from 1975, which he never bothered to carry out. It contained instructions to demolish as quickly as possible the house of the merchant Ipatiev, in the basement of which during the revolution organized by the Bolsheviks, seeking to overthrow the royal foundations, the last Russian Tsar Nicholas II and his family were killed. Yeltsin immediately ordered the demolition of the building. His decisive leadership style and diligence did not go unnoticed by higher authorities. Gorbachev issues a decree on his transfer to Moscow, and from that day political career Yeltsin begins to rise rapidly. According to the recommendations given by deputy Yegor Ligachev, Yeltsin was appointed to a responsible position - First Secretary of the Moscow City Committee of the CPSU, where he successfully began to restore order among corrupt officials.

It was after his appointment that the black market in Moscow, operating according to a system that had been well-established over the years, began to shake. Spontaneous food fairs began to appear in the city, allowing people to purchase fresh collective farm fruits and vegetables directly from trucks, without any markup.

Daughters' lives

Yeltsin's biography had an indirect impact on the fate of his daughters. They were raised with a clear understanding that family is the most important thing in life. Boris and Naina tried to devote as much time as possible to the children, making sure to celebrate birthdays and the New Year together.

As a result of such upbringing, Yeltsin’s eldest daughter, Elena (married Okulova), repeated the fate of her mother. Devoting all her free time to her family, she tried as much as possible to avoid fame, a certain amount of which was imposed on her by being born into a family of such a person. famous person. Yeltsin’s youngest daughter, Tatyana, on the contrary, although she did not achieve such outstanding successes as her father, she followed in his footsteps, leaving her mark on history. She began her career as an employee of the Russian Presidential Administration in 1996, eventually becoming a key adviser to her father. She has been married twice and is raising wonderful children with whom Naina Yeltsina loves to spend time. Unfortunately, one of them, Gleb, was diagnosed with Down syndrome. However, Yeltsin’s character was also reflected in his grandchildren. Even though this is a rather unpleasant disease, Gleb manages to fully enjoy life.

Yeltsin, who was advancing to power in the 90s, had to establish himself as a strong political leader, in the creation of whose image Tatyana played an important role. It is worth noting that her appointment to such a high post caused a lot of controversy at one time, because private entrepreneurs, according to the current legislation, could not hold a political position, but the fact of the appointment remained a fact.

Rebuilding the country after the collapse of the USSR

After his appointment as a candidate member of the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee in 1986, it was Yeltsin Boris Nikolaevich who began an active fight against the sluggish policy of perestroika, thanks to which he earned himself his first enemies among the members of the Central Committee, under whose pressure Yeltsin’s opinion changed sharply, and he was appointed to the position of First Secretary of the City Committee of the capital. Since 1988, his dissatisfaction with the lack of will of Politburo members has only intensified. Most of all goes to the same Ligachev, who recommended Yeltsin for this position.

In 1989, he successfully managed to combine the position of deputy of the Moscow district and membership in the Supreme Soviet of the USSR until 1990, when he first became a people's deputy of the RSFSR, and then Chairman of the Supreme Council of the RSFSR, whose position, after parliament approved the declaration of sovereignty of the RSFSR, became in the country more significant. It was during this period that conflictual relations with Mikhail Gorbachev reached their peak, as a result of which he left the CPSU.

Most of the people reacted negatively to the collapse of such a great state as Soviet Union, having completely lost confidence in Gorbachev, which Yeltsin took advantage of. The year 1991 was marked by the fact that the people chose their president for the first time, who became Boris Yeltsin. For the first time, people were able to choose their own leader, because before this the party dealt with these issues, and people were simply informed about the change of leader.

Political activity

The first President Yeltsin immediately after his appointment begins an active purge of the ranks. In August 1991, he arrested Gorbachev in Crimea and put him under house arrest. Then, before the new year 1992, Yeltsin, having agreed with the top officials of Ukraine and Belarus, signed the Belovezhskaya Agreement, as a result of which the CIS appeared.

Yeltsin's reign could not be called calm. It was he who had to actively resist the Supreme Council, which disagreed with its decisions. As a result, disagreements grow to such proportions that Yeltsin is forced to send tanks into Moscow to dissolve parliament.

Despite the fact that he had strong support from the people, one significant mistake negated all his achievements. In 1994, Yeltsin approved the entry of Russian troops into Chechnya. As a result of hostilities, many Russians die, and the people begin to show the first signs of dissatisfaction with the new government.

A few years after these events, Yeltsin decides to run for a second term and overtakes his main communist rival, Zyuganov. However, the election struggle did not pass without a trace for Yeltsin. After his inauguration ceremony, it took him more than a year to regain his health.

Change of power in the country

Yeltsin's reign entered its final stage in the late 90s. As a result of the crisis in Russia and the rapid collapse of the ruble, his rating is falling. Yeltsin decides to take a step unexpected for everyone: he quietly retires, leaving behind a successor in the person of Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, who guarantees Boris Nikolayevich a calm and quiet old age.

Despite leaving his main position, Yeltsin does not cease to participate in the political life of the country until Putin, by special decree, officially prohibits him from attending such events, worried about his health. However, even such strict precautions could not prevent a sad outcome.

Funny moments from life

Despite the fact that Boris’s life was quite difficult, there were also a lot of positive moments in it. Only he could afford informal communication with the top officials of the countries, while under the influence, which, although considered a lack of tact, was warmly perceived by the majority of European leaders, who had the most positive impressions of Yeltsin. While visiting Germany, he liked the orchestra's performance so much that he tried to conduct it himself. And, of course, one cannot fail to note the unsurpassed playing on spoons. It is noteworthy that this talent would not have fallen into the category of funny moments from the life of Boris Yeltsin if he had not used the heads of his subordinates for the game.

Political figures such as Angela Merkel, George W. Bush, Jacques Chirac, Tony Blair, Bill Clinton forever remembered Yeltsin as a cheerful and cheerful person, thanks to whom Russia finally had a chance to rise from its knees after the collapse of the USSR and the subsequent behind him is a crisis. They were the first to express their condolences to Naina Yeltsina on the day of the funeral.

On April 23, 2008, at the Novodevichy cemetery, sculptor Georgy Frangulyan presented a monument to Boris Yeltsin. The memorial is made in the colors of the Russian flag, under which is engraved Orthodox cross. The materials used were white marble, sky-colored Byzantine mosaics and red porphyry.

Death and funeral

The years of Yeltsin's life allow us to judge him as a person with great willpower and a thirst for life. Despite the fact that he political activity cannot be assessed unambiguously, it was he who had the honor of putting Russia on the path of improvement.

Yeltsin's death occurred on April 23, 2007, at 15.45, in the Central Clinical Hospital. The cause was cardiac arrest as a result of progressive cardiovascular multiple organ failure, that is, a malfunction internal organs during serious illness hearts. It is worth noting that throughout his reign, he, as a true leader, was always aimed at victory, even if this required overstepping certain moral or legislative principles. At the same time, the character of this great man remains inexplicable. Striving for absolute power and overcoming many obstacles to achieve this, he voluntarily gives it up, handing over the reins of power to Vladimir Putin, who was not only able to improve the state created by Yeltsin, but also achieved significant progress in all sectors.

Immediately before his hospitalization, Yeltsin suffered from an acute form of a cold, which caused severe damage to his already weak health. Even though he went to the clinic almost two weeks before his death, the best doctors in the country could not do anything. In the last week, he didn’t even get out of bed, and on the tragic day the former head’s heart stopped twice, and the first time the doctors literally pulled him out of the other world, and the second time they couldn’t do anything.

According to the wishes of the relatives, Boris Nikolayevich’s body remained untouched, and the pathologist did not perform an autopsy, however, this did not mitigate the fact that Yeltsin’s funeral became a real tragedy. And this is not only about the loving family, which sincerely experienced his death, but also about the tragedy for the entire Russian people. This day will forever be remembered by the residents of Russia as a day of great mourning, declared by a special decree of the new President of the Russian Federation.

Yeltsin's funeral took place on April 25, 2007. The tragic ceremony was covered by all major Russian television channels, so that those who were unable to come to Moscow to say goodbye to him had the opportunity to at least watch what was happening from the other side of the screen and say goodbye to this outstanding man.

The ceremony was attended by many former and current heads of state. Those who were unable to appear in person expressed their condolences to Yeltsin's loved ones. When the coffin with the body of the former head of state was lowered into the ground, an artillery salute sounded, marking a tribute to the memory of the president, who will always be remembered in Russia.