Go to main pageCommunityForumsFeaturesLooking back at the forceful dissolution of the Russian Parliament in 1993, do you think, eventually, it did more good than harm for the country?
Looking back at the forceful dissolution of the Russian Parliament in 1993, do you think, eventually, it did more good than harm for the country?
Al 4 October, 2007, 12:35
Considering the looting of Russia that was taking place and the continuation of that process up to the point that the country was a basket case it was not a good thing. IMO nothing about the Yeltsin era was.
Untold damage, of course, was done, both in the short and the long term.
What is not clear is what on earth possessed a man (Yeltsin) who a few years previously, had stood up for freedom against the coup plotters, to sweep away the institutions of a fledgling democracy for the sake of his reforms.
Was he in the pocket of the West?
Was he carried away by his program?
Or did he simply think that somehow "the people" would support a populist president, despite the mounting chaos and discontent.
One thing is sure, Russia is still paying for his actions. Those, especially, in the army, who reluctantly came to his aid, exacted a heavy price for their assistance.
As I said before, the very illiberal actions of the so-called "liberals" paved the way for the new, undemocratic structures. Those who glorify the new set-up and decry Yeltsin actually owe him a debt of gratitude.
So those who, for example, support Putin, really should agree that in the long run it WAS for the best.
