Fall of the Soviet Union – Rise of Russia

1. Fall of the Soviet Union – Rise of Russia Gorbachev – Putin/Medvedev

2. Effects of an Independent Media • The CPSU no longer controlled the media • The media began to expose severe social and economic problems the Soviet government had long denied and actively concealed: • Poor housing • Alcoholism & drug abuse • Pollution • Outdated Stalin era factories • Wide spread corruption • Crimes committed by Stalin and the Soviet regime – gulags • The ongoing war in Afghanistan • Mishandling of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster

3. Break-up of the USSR • Throughout 1990 the 15 republics began having independent elections • Yeltsin elected President of Russia in June 1991 • Independence came first in the Baltics • Gorby was set to sign a treaty turning the USSR into a federation of independent republics with a common president, foreign policy and military. • A coup of his own leadership had him arrested • Popular support of this coup was limited

4. The break up (cont) • Boris Yeltsin gained popularity by condemning the coup against Gorby • The coup collapsed after 3 days • Yeltsin issued a decree condemning the CPSU • December 8, 1991 – CIS is agreed upon by Russia, Belarus, & Ukraine • On December 25, 1991, Gorbachev resigned as president of the USSR • declaring the office extinct • ceding all the powers still vested in it to the president of Russia: Yeltsin

5. Creation of the CIS • 12 of the 15 FSR join between 1991 – 2000 • Turkmenistan withdrew its membership in 2005, but remains an associate member • Loose confederation • Cooperate on matters of • economics • defense • foreign policy

6. Boris Yeltsin

7. Not exactly democratic (he was the president and Prime Minister) • Economy got worse (hyperinflation) and poverty increased • Coup attempts try to get rid of him • Rise of communist opposition parties • He had his opponents who were gathered in the Parliament building fired on by Russian tanks • Dec. 1994 – he orders the invasion of the break away province of Chechnya

8. Reelected in 1996 – barely winning a run off with the Communist opposition leader • Opposed NATO intervention in Yugoslavia; he and the Americans also disagreed on the Chechen issue • Resigned at the end of 1999; allegations of alcoholism & poor health • Yeltsin chose his successor as Vladimir Putin

9. Vladimir Putin

10. KGB agent during Soviet era • Prime Minister & Acting President (Aug. 1999 – May 2000) • Elected President in May 2000 and reelected in 2004 • Has enjoyed improving economic conditions and improved political stability in Russia (Time’s Person of the Year ’07) • Very wealthy – mainly from ownership in oil companies • Putin has made Russia very powerful once again with his consolidation of Russia’s oil resources

12. Began limiting democratic freedoms in the name of combating terrorism • 14 journalists, who have been critical of Putin’s government, have died under questionable circumstances • In 2007, he cracked down on civil society and freedom of assembly • According to the constitution, the Russian president can only serve two consecutive terms • Putin cannot run in 2008, but he could in 2012

13. Dmitry Medvedev chosen as Putin’s successor for the United Russia Party • Medvedev, who will win the 08 election, nominated Putin for Prime Minister • Putin pledged not to change the distribution of authority between president and PM • Putin becomes the Prime Minister (2008-2012)

14. Dmitry Medvedev • Elected March 2008 • Received 70% of vote • Seen as Putin’s puppet

15. 2008 War in South Ossetia • Caucasus region • Region known for sustained conflict in the border area with Russia (Chechnya) • important conduit for the flow of oil from the Caspian Sea to world markets

16. War in South Ossetia • 1991 - S. Ossetia breaks declares independence from Georgia • Russian peacekeepers are sent to the region • Recognized as independent by Russia but not by Georgia • 2004 – Pres. Saakahvili is elected in Georgia • Determined to see a united Georgia • August 2008 – Fighting breaks out between the Georgian military & South Ossetian militants • Russian military sent to support the S. Ossetians • Is this a violation of Georgian sovereignty?

17. Putin says that Georgia committed an “act of war” by firing on South Ossetian militants • US State Dept. publically supports Georgia • US friendly with Georgian President because he supports democratic value • Georgia trying to gain membership in EU • Seen by many as Russia’s attempt to make the world aware of their military re-emergence • Russia withdrawals troops • from Georgia at the end of August after a cease-fire is negotiated • From South Ossetia in October (troops remain nearby) • WATCH VIDEO

18. March 2012 - Putin Wins Presidency (again) • Amidst wave after wave of protests, Putin is re-elected with 64% of the vote • Criticisms of the election: ballot stuffing, lack of competition, media bias, using government funds to campaign • Another 8 years? If you include the four years as PM, Putin will be able to hold power in Russia for 20 years, coming close to Stalin’s reign of 25 years