How did Yeltsin change the political and economic atmosphere of Russia?

Question by Drill Sgt: How did Boris Yeltsin change the political and economic atmosphere of the Soviet Union?
Answers and Views:

Answer by Oh! The Humanity!
Well, basically he assumed command during the coup in which Gorbachev was held prisoner. He was later elected Russia’s president in it’s first democratic election…although the USSR didn’t exist any more.

So, the broad answer is that he removed Communism from the USSR.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_coup_attempt_of_1991

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