Boris Yeltsin was one of the modern day Russia's most controversial presidents. By speeding up the reforms begun by Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985, Yeltsin brought about the dissolution of the Soviet Empire and gave the coup de grace to the iron rule of the Communist Party. More than any other Russian leader, he deserves credit for creating a working democratic political process, albeit in a rather inelegant fashion. Charges of corruption have also plagued his regime quite often.
He was one of the greatest entertainers - Of his many faux-pas, the notable few are the one during a Dublin stop-over when Mr Yeltsin was due to meet the Irish premier Albert Reynolds. After an embarrassingly long wait at the end of a red carpet on the runway at Shannon Airport, the Irish leadership was informed by the president's advisors that he was "unwell" and would not be leaving the plane.
On returning to Moscow, Mr Yeltsin admonished his team for not waking him up. The accepted version of events among journalists is that he was drunk.
The second one was the "Holy Father, we haven't finished yet" and the toast to his love for Italian women when he visited Pope John Paul II.
So long Boris Yelstin..May your soul rest in peace!!
He was one of the greatest entertainers - Of his many faux-pas, the notable few are the one during a Dublin stop-over when Mr Yeltsin was due to meet the Irish premier Albert Reynolds. After an embarrassingly long wait at the end of a red carpet on the runway at Shannon Airport, the Irish leadership was informed by the president's advisors that he was "unwell" and would not be leaving the plane.
On returning to Moscow, Mr Yeltsin admonished his team for not waking him up. The accepted version of events among journalists is that he was drunk.
The second one was the "Holy Father, we haven't finished yet" and the toast to his love for Italian women when he visited Pope John Paul II.
So long Boris Yelstin..May your soul rest in peace!!
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