The singly and the only worthy thing Boris Yeltsin did which served the interests of Russia was his decision to pass the political leadership of the country to Vladimir Putin as his successor. Obviously, it was achieved- according number of media reports- as a quid pro quo so that Yeltsin and his family will receive generous pension and will escape prosecution. In my mind, Boris Yeltsin represents Russia in the 1990s: diseased, corrupt, destruction, decline of Russia’s position in the world, alcoholism, laziness, mass looting. Russia needs 20 more years of the leadership of healthy leaders with sound minds and healthy bodies to overcome to misrule of Boris Yeltsin and his gang of oligarchs.

The author should be analyzing the Putin's legacy, which started 10 years ago and continues today. In this article Yaroshevskiy trying to convey the idea that Putin ended the war with Chechnya and saved Russia from disintegration. In reality, Putin started the second war in Chechnya which has not ended yet. Using brute military power and killing tens of thousands Chechen civilians, Putin recaptured Chechnya. While brutally suppressing separatism in Russia, Putin openly supported separatism in neighboring countries, such as Georgia, Azerbaijan, Moldova and Ukraine. Putin's legacy will prove to be criminal and wrong both legally and morally. Putin's legacy will turn out to be very shortsighted and damaging to Russia itself. By supporting separatism in Georgia, Putin encourages separatism within Russia. Putin's damage to Russia may be concealed today, but it will be self-evident in the next 10 years.

ZviadKavteli "The author should be analyzing the Putin's legacy, which started 10 years ago and continues today. In this article Yaroshevskiy trying to convey the idea that Putin ended the war with Chechnya and saved Russia from disintegration" The fact of the matter is that Putin did save Russia from destruction. This point is beyond dispute. Putin’s legacy cannot be written because Putin effect on Russia is unfolding. Putin- is the greatest gift to Russia for very long time. He has done so much for Russia. Putin is relatively young, healthy, alert, agile but also well educated. Forget about Judo: Putin has educational skills unmatched by any Western leader. This is why he is hated o much by western corporate leaders and he is respected by many of us in the left- even when we do not agree with all his policies.

Zaviad. Thank god for Putin. Many people died in Chechneya, that is true but it seems to me the people of the Kavkaz (including Georgia) have little interest in anything other than killing their neighbors. A strong hand is necessary to keep the peace or some semblance thereof.

@Zviadkavteli ... western governments are supporting separatism everywhere in the world except their own countires ... they're mass killing people in several countries and YOUR country is one those that is supporting them .. NOW THAT MUST BE ANALYZED ... lol and Saakashvilli is brutally suppressing the oposition in Georgia ... before pointing your finger at others ...look in your own backyard

Yeltsin and all things around him is a good example how the history may be completely unfair to someone. And how primary achievements of that person may be overshadowed and, practically, erased by the secondary stuff which comes as an aftermath of those primary deeds and intentions... The rise, reign, and the fall of Yeltsin was happening right before my eyes. I remember well his initial intentions and motives which were implemented in that "liberal capitalism" of 1990s, which he, practically, lost control of. Without going to detailed explanation why I think so, I will just list of primary things which Yeltsin suppose to be credited and remembered for. a) This is Yeltsin who dismantled the Soviet System and prevented even more radical Soviet regime which existed before Gorbatchev came to power. Not Gorbachev, as many in the West may think. b) This is Yelsin, who first experimented with the liberal capitalism and Western type of democracy in Russia and demonstrated that it will not work on Russians. c) This is Yeltsin, who prevented further disintegration of the Russian Federation and its complete collapse. d) This is Yeltsin, who prevented Soviet nuclear weapon and materials being spread around the globe and being ended in arms of terrorists. e) This is Yelsin, who had an incredible gift of finding talented people in his team, created the basis of that governing system which was inherited by Putin. The one may argue, that Yeltsin didn't create anything. We could look at things that way. But, I consider Yeltsin as a surgeon who successfully executed dangerous and painful operation. While, Putin and Medvedev are doctors who helping the "patient" to recover after the operation.

ZviadKavteli, I assume that you are Georgian (or pro-Georgian). So, instead of trashing Russian leaders, you would rather pay close attention on that maniac Saakashvili, who is driving Georgia to nowhere. And you would rather help Georgia to wake up from the hypnosis, which Saakashvili put it in.

@Bogdanov I would love to see someone list TANGIBLE achievements by Yeltsin apart from (as Sarah puts it) giving the Russian people and the rest of us on left the greatest gift ever--Putin.

armen08 So let us wait for Russians to make this list. As for Bogdanov's Attempt to ameliorate and rehabilitate the Yeltsin’s legacy he has chosen a wrong metaphor for a good surgeon, more than anything else needs steady hands and sharp eyes and Yelstin’s had neither. So he was a very bad surgeon. We have spoken of the economy and law and order issues but less discussed is the lasting impact of Yeltsin years on the Russian family, Russian women, Russian children[sharp rise of family break ups, abandonment of children, homelessness]. This was a period when the idea of Russian womanhood has been rearticulated in terms of sexual trafficking, prostitution and mail order brides to wealthy older men in the West. So, the Yestsin’s weak and diseased medical condition and hi alcoholism was not just a metaphor for the Russia’s bodypolitic but there were concrete epidemiological corollary effects of his political misrule and incompetence that will last for at least another two decades to overcome. Today, the U.S State Department issued a press releases on the "Human Rights" of Russia.This is becoming comical worthy of Saturday Night Live. In the recent Copenhagen meeting on the global warming, President Obama sat between Gordon Brown and Meles Zinawi. Two days after the end of Copenhagen meeting, Zinawi went home and quickly sentenced key members of Ethiopia's opposition parties to death and others to life imprisonments. There was no a word from the Obama administration of Meles Zinawi regime of terror.. Of course, that does not mean that nations should not respect the rights of their citizens but that the U.S State Department is really becoming epitome of doublespeak, spins and lies. Just look how many billions of U.S cash Zinawi receives each year from the U.S and that will not change. The real shame is the media silence. http://en.rian.ru/russia/20100101/157435793.html

Sarah, Happy New Year! I knew that certain readers may have problems with my metaphor. But, I have reasons to think this way -- considering Yeltsin as a major figure behind that transformation of Russia from the Soviet Union to its current form. By the way, in this my view, I am in no way diminishing role of Putin, who, as we remember, was brought to the government by Yeltsin and who, surprisingly for everyone, Yeltsin have chosen as a person who would continue the work he started. Putin lead Russia through the next stage of its transformation, which was inevitable. And he demonstrated strong skills and personal qualities. Putin, has his legacy. It is huge, as well. In certain way, he returned Russia back to life. I don't think, that I would disagree with almost anything I could say about his role and achievements (I read your many previous comments and know little bit about your position regarding this matter). This is why I "warned", that I provide my list without detailed justification. My explanation would be very long. Anyway, I still standing behind that metaphor of Yeltsin as a lead surgeon. I didn't say, though, that he was neither good nor nice. He did what he supposed to do without paying attention on that pain, "the patient" was going through. And he made mistakes. Who wouldn't when going through something new? But, he achieved the major goal and result -- Russia is still alive. Which not necessarily had been the case, if Russia at that time wouldn't have such strong leader as Yeltsin. I want to remind, that in 1980s and 1990s there is no one on the Soviet/Russian political horizon who would match him even close. This is one of the reasons, by the way, why he managed to get so much power and manage to keep Russia's territorial and political integrity.

By the way, Sarah. I am afraid that Medvedev will not succeed with his plans and Russians will have to bring Putin back as a President in 2012. Exactly for the same reasons why reforms conducted by Yeltsin failed -- the Western political and social (liberal) model doesn't fit Russia. Only when Russia realizes the reality on the ground -- stops pretending that it is a part of the European community -- and looks at itself as something unique (say, similar to the US, India, China, or Japan) which don't have any model to borrow and follow, or, at least, as an Asian country, only then it will have chance successfully move forward. As I said before -- one of the biggest Yeltsin legacy -- he demonstrated that following the Western type of democracy is a wrong way to go for Russia. I am surprised that many Russian politicians still don't get it.

Bogdanov, and Happy New Year to you as well. Now, it is hard to do research to gain estimate the damage to Russia under Yeltsin’ s decade of looting and destruction. The damage is already very evident in the areas of public healthy, demography and cohesion of the Russian family. I am deeply interested in this because for the reasons I cannot explain- perhaps it has to do with reading Russian literature- I felt the pain of the Russian people and I quickly felt things will be different when Vladimir Putin assumed political power. When Yeltsin and the oligarchy known as "The Family" selected Vladimir Putin they thought they were getting meek, reliable servant- who is also younger and healthier than Yeltsin! Well, I do not think they thought they were getting The Putin, The Man. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation(CBC) did a documentary about the rise of Vladimir Putin- called "the Putin System"- despite using pro U.S Ex. KGB, Dick Cheney and Zgugniew Brzezink to discrete Putin, they unwittingy provided some interesting background research which showed how the oligarches- through Yeltsin's Kremlin-run Russia. Yeltsin/The Family- selected Putin – because they were thinking about he was timed, loyal, unknown and dependable! As for your friendship with Medvedev, I have no problem with that. I cannot vote in Russian election since I am not Russian citizen but I am all for Putin's return to the top office in 2012.

Sarah, you wrote: "...Yeltsin’ s decade of looting and destruction. The damage is already very evident in the areas of public healthy, demography and cohesion of the Russian family". That is true. I cannot argue with you on that. As well, as I cannot argue with you on your: " the oligarches...selected Putin ... because they were thinking about he was timed, loyal, unknown and dependable". May be that was big part of the underwater political movement in Kremlin at that time. Though, I do not trust almost any Western sources on that. Not because, they are not correct. But, primarily, because they tend to significantly simplify the whole picture. I primarily using my personal experience -- what I was thinking and wanted at that time, what I considered right and wrong approaches, would I would do, if I would be in their shoe, and so on... So, from my corner, the whole situation looked much more complicated. From one hand -- I enjoyed practically unlimited freedom and endless opportunities any ambitious and self-driven Russians had. Basically, that was a classical liberal capitalism -- wild West -- you are in complete control of your destiny. From the other hand -- I saw this looting of the country, where its former wealth like a river was flowing to the West. We may argue, that that was well designed plan from the top (oligarchs and their Western "partners"). But, I also saw the other side of it -- regular Russians (in their attempts to survive or become rich) "gladly" selling pieces or Russia as well. So, I would not put all blame on the Russian top leadership. Some Russians were disgusted by what is going on in the country, but a lot of bastards (mafia) were happy and flourish. They also were Russians. By the way, when I say Russians, I mean Russian citizens and not ethnic Russians. Because, so called "Russian Mafia" consisted primarily from Russian speaking, but not ethnic Russians.

Bogdanov I did not bring reference to the western media as my main sources but to stress that the program was an orchestrated attempt to paint Putan as evil in the making. The evidence I have referred to were primarily background-archival material and they were backed up with interviews and actually visual images and texts. As for your reference to "the Wild West" looting as greed is good- in fact it started in 1492 as an organised genocide against the people of the Americas; it was predicated not on freedom but purely on racist imperative of white Anglo Saxon, Christian imperative of Manifest Density. I have no space here to unpack this imperative- but you can trace it from the 1492 the conquest of the Americas to the collapse of Wall Street and rise of global oligarchy. There is nothing about this enterprise that is worthy of celebrating and it has nothing to do with capitalism. What I find disgusting is that no amount of new social investment will rehabilitee the ruined lives of families and young children because they and their country became prey to will of a new class of thieves and mafia. Russia will never be safe and secure until this class of thieves are brought under total control. This is can only be done as a collective effort of the Russian people to reclaim their country, society, economy, military and security. Those who looted their nation's wealth at the moment when the nation was its mot vulnerable cannot be considered true citizens of Russia. Perhaps that is why must of these oligarchies have run away from Russia to relocate to the West to enjoy their ill gotten loot outside the reach of Russian authority.

Sorry for the few missing words, etc. Bogdanov I did not bring reference to the western media as my main sources but to stress that the program was an orchestrated attempt to paint Putin as evil in the making. The evidence I have referred to were primarily background-archival material and they were backed up with interviews and actual visual images and texts. As for your reference to "the Wild West" looting as greed is good- in fact it started in 1492 as an organised genocide against the people of the Americas; it was predicated not on freedom but purely on racist imperative of white Anglo Saxon, Christian imperative of Manifest Density. I have no space here to unpack this imperative- but you can trace it from the 1492 the conquest of the Americas to the collapse of Wall Street and rise of global oligarchy. There is nothing about this enterprise that is worthy of celebrating and it has nothing to do with capitalism. What I find disgusting is that no amount of new social investment will rehabilitated the ruined lives of families and young children because they and their country became prey to the will of a new class of thieves and mafia. Russia will never be safe and secure until this class of thieves are brought under total control. This can only be done as a collective effort of the Russian people to reclaim their country, society, economy, military and security. Those who looted their nation's wealth at the moment when the nation was its most vulnerable cannot be considered true citizens of Russia. Perhaps that is why most of these oligarchies have run away from Russia to relocate to the West to enjoy their ill gotten loot outside the reach of Russian authority.

Sarah, I guess, there is certain misunderstanding between us. I agree with you that the "Russian Wild West" of 90s is not something that Russia would be proud of. I just simply pointed out, that, similar to American Wild West, Russia was the country lived by the laws of jungle. In such situation, you, as a particular individual, were free to do whatever you want -- start your own business or do nothing. Nobody would came after you and tell you what and how to do. Nobody needed you and nobody cared about you. But, you had to rely only on yourself, including defending yourself from big and small predictors around you. As as said before, differently, some benefited from this -- some suffered. Another thing -- and this is where I may argue (if I am not misinterpreting your message, of course) with you saying "as a collective effort of the Russian people to reclaim their country, society, economy, military and security" -- the legacy of Yeltsin is that he demonstrated that you should not allow people themselves to take control of the country. Because, they will turn it to the jungle. Russia needs strong central government, which should be much stronger than any other organized force in the country to suppress its activity if necessary. And this, basically, what Putin did -- created this supreme power and used it (I am saying this in the positive way). To decentralize and maintain stability in the society is more difficult thing to do (not for the government, but for society itself). Primarily, because, the majority of the population should have certain culture to live this way. I am not sure that Russians are quite ready for this, especially considering its size and national and cultural diversity. I believe, this is one of the reasons why Russia's life is oscillating for centuries. Because, when it has a liberal leader -- it is turning to the jungle, and when the government takes full control -- the country is going to stagnation.

Many people in many countries besides Russians lived despondently while Yeltsin was (mis)ruling Russia. We held our hearts in our hands. The descent of the Western vultures under the guise of reforming the Russian economy scared the hell out of us. I am of course talking about people who have an understanding of the Western business culture and care about what happens in the world and hold truth, equality and brotherhood dearly in their soul. What did these people witness during the heydays of Yeltsin's (Yigor Gaydar's, Jefferey Sachs's) shock therapy? The wholesale theft and robbery of seven decades of Russian wealth created by its people. Many natural resources belonging to the Russian people were usurped overnight by citizens of Russia of non-Russian origin. Fifteen oligarchs were able to plunder the wealth of the biggest and richest country in the world overnight. This kind of robbery had no equal in the entire history of mankind. No other felony even came close to this murder of a country and a nation in peacetime. Putin characterized this unprecedented thievery following the collapse of the Soviet Union as the greatest tragedy suffered by any people in peacetime. The catastrophe was beyond imagination. The Russian economy fell by more than 50% in no time and life expectancy dropped by at least ten years to 60. many of those overnight multi-billionaires like Berezovsky and Gusinsky are still plotting the downfall of Russia from their safe heavens. Now, I would not consider closing one's eye to this immense tragedy to save Yeltsin from the unforgiving verdict of history an easy task. That is why, Bogdanov, your job is impossible. Yeltsin was a total mess. He was a complete failure. And the only reason he was not prosecuted for the insuperable pain he caused the Russian people with the help of his non-Russian clique was because an extraordinary gentleman like Putin had the ultimate wisdom to safeguard Russian history for posterity.

Bogdanov First, the West- was not empty land. tribes lived there. The Wild West was a genocide of peoples, nations and tribes and the dispossession of their land. . Second, even with the absence of effective state, there are normative rules and traditions which help people survive. What we are speaking here is the rise of groups of well conducted thieves who used the state apparatuses, murders, assassinations to loot the wealth of the entire nation. When the Third Reich did this to the Jews in WWII- it was considered a crime against humanity-which it was and with the end of the Third Reich whatever that could be recover of the wealth members of the Third Reich looted were returned to their rightful owners- the same should apply to the oligarchies who stolen massive wealth from Russian people. On the contrary, you seem to want to, at once, invoke the law and order against the people- which I am sure refers to Yeltsin’s storming of the Parliament to stop the people from reclaiming their democracy whilst insisting that the mass looting of the nation’s wealth was nothing more than fact of nature! Russia did not fall to the level of Somalia and yet what call wild west is disgusting-even when people cannot stop gang of looters from terrorising the civilian population. This is because all human societies, no matter how primitive, have normative values which keeps the society restrain people from committing heinous crimes against other members of their community and culture. Yet, you’ve started your comments in this blog with your claim that Yeltsin was the real "surgeon" who saved Russia supposedly by removing the ‘real cancer’ from health parts of the bodypolic and Putin and his successor have been doing the mop up job and then repeatedly asserted that the mass looting of Russia was in accord with the early capitalist spirit of Wild the wild West capitalism. I have tried to share with you what Wild West was: mass looting and genocide- alas!

armen08 Thank you stating the facts so clearly and succinctly. My deepest fear is that: these oligarchies have not only almost succeed destroying Russia but that they are still plotting to destroy Russia- and this is my real fear for Russia. 15 men/thieves/ oligarches have destroyed Russia is shocking. More disgusting is the current attempt to rehabilitate the legacy of mass looting as 'modernising' Russia! This is why I am curious about the discourse of modernising Russia and those who seek to use the state apparatuses to bring Russia to the dark days of mass looting, despair and destruction. Russia can use the free advise of well meaning people from the West and shall never seek the help and the advise of those who have engineered and almost succeeded the eradication of Russia as a nation, people and culture.I think these forces are already in back in Russia. I am very apprehensive for the future of Russia but I remain hopeful. How could anybody consider these men as citizens of Russia?