Boris Yeltsin, the first democratically elected president in Russian history, died yesterday of heart failure, ending a spectacular political career that spanned the end of the cold war, the collapse of the Soviet empire, and a decade of chaos and liberty in Russia, halted and reversed by his successor, Vladimir Putin.
They’ve called him a hero, a villain, and a buffoon. All three are compliments. At least he was a man who stood for what believed in - in a country that isn’t well known for allowing that kind of patriotism. Yeltsin was a man for his times. He took the high road when there weren’t many options and fought hard to do the right thing for himself and his country. Such courage is rare, especially among politicians. It’s a shame he didn’t stick around longer. His successor hasn’t proven to be as much a character.
