Fall of the Soviet Fall of the Soviet Union – Rise of RussiaUnion – Rise of Russia

Gorbachev – Putin/MedvedevGorbachev – Putin/Medvedev

Effects of an Independent Effects of an Independent Media Media

The CPSU no longer controlled the mediaThe CPSU no longer controlled the media The media began to expose severe social and The media began to expose severe social and

economic problems the Soviet government economic problems the Soviet government had long denied and actively concealed:had long denied and actively concealed:– Poor housingPoor housing– Alcoholism & drug abuseAlcoholism & drug abuse– PollutionPollution– Outdated Stalin era factoriesOutdated Stalin era factories– Wide spread corruptionWide spread corruption– Crimes committed by Stalin and the Soviet regime Crimes committed by Stalin and the Soviet regime

– gulags– gulags– The ongoing war in AfghanistanThe ongoing war in Afghanistan– Mishandling of the 1986 Chernobyl disasterMishandling of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster

Break-up of the USSRBreak-up of the USSR Throughout 1990 the 15 republics began Throughout 1990 the 15 republics began

having independent electionshaving independent elections– Yeltsin elected President of Russia in June 1991Yeltsin elected President of Russia in June 1991

Independence came first in the BalticsIndependence came first in the Baltics Gorby was set to sign a treaty turning the Gorby was set to sign a treaty turning the

USSR into a federation of independent USSR into a federation of independent republics with a common president, republics with a common president, foreign policy and military.foreign policy and military.

A coup of his own leadership had him A coup of his own leadership had him arrestedarrested

Popular support of this coup was limited Popular support of this coup was limited

The break up (cont)The break up (cont) Boris Yeltsin gained popularity by Boris Yeltsin gained popularity by

condemning the coup against Gorbycondemning the coup against Gorby The coup collapsed after 3 daysThe coup collapsed after 3 days Yeltsin issued a decree condemning the Yeltsin issued a decree condemning the

CPSUCPSU December 8, 1991 – CIS is agreed upon by December 8, 1991 – CIS is agreed upon by

Russia, Belarus, & UkraineRussia, Belarus, & Ukraine On December 25, 1991, Gorbachev resigned On December 25, 1991, Gorbachev resigned

as president of the USSRas president of the USSR– declaring the office extinct declaring the office extinct – ceding all the powers still vested in it to the ceding all the powers still vested in it to the

president of Russia: Yeltsinpresident of Russia: Yeltsin

Creation of the CISCreation of the CIS 12 of the 15 FSR join 12 of the 15 FSR join

between 1991 – 2000between 1991 – 2000 Turkmenistan withdrew Turkmenistan withdrew

its membership in 2005, its membership in 2005, but remains an but remains an associate memberassociate member

Loose confederationLoose confederation Cooperate on matters ofCooperate on matters of

– economicseconomics– defense defense – foreign policyforeign policy

Boris YeltsinBoris Yeltsin

Not exactly democratic (he was the Not exactly democratic (he was the president and Prime Minister)president and Prime Minister)

Economy got worse (hyperinflation) and Economy got worse (hyperinflation) and poverty increasedpoverty increased

Coup attempts try to get rid of himCoup attempts try to get rid of him– Rise of communist opposition partiesRise of communist opposition parties

He had his opponents who were He had his opponents who were gathered in the Parliament building fired gathered in the Parliament building fired on by Russian tankson by Russian tanks

Dec. 1994 – he orders the invasion of Dec. 1994 – he orders the invasion of the break away province of Chechnyathe break away province of Chechnya

Reelected in 1996 – barely winning a Reelected in 1996 – barely winning a run off with the Communist opposition run off with the Communist opposition leaderleader

Opposed NATO intervention in Opposed NATO intervention in Yugoslavia; he and the Americans also Yugoslavia; he and the Americans also disagreed on the Chechen issuedisagreed on the Chechen issue

Resigned at the end of 1999; Resigned at the end of 1999; allegations of alcoholism & poor healthallegations of alcoholism & poor health

Yeltsin chose his successor as Vladimir Yeltsin chose his successor as Vladimir PutinPutin

Vladimir PutinVladimir Putin

KGB agent during Soviet eraKGB agent during Soviet era Prime Minister & Acting President (Aug. Prime Minister & Acting President (Aug.

1999 – May 2000)1999 – May 2000) Elected President in May 2000 and Elected President in May 2000 and

reelected in 2004 reelected in 2004 Has enjoyed improving economic Has enjoyed improving economic

conditions and improved political conditions and improved political stability in Russia (Time’s Person of the stability in Russia (Time’s Person of the Year ’07)Year ’07)

Very wealthy – mainly from ownership Very wealthy – mainly from ownership in oil companiesin oil companies

Putin has made Russia very powerful Putin has made Russia very powerful once again with his consolidation of once again with his consolidation of Russia’s oil resourcesRussia’s oil resources

http://www.caglepost.com/send/RJ+Matson/44492/Putin+On+A+Roll.html

Began limiting democratic freedoms in the Began limiting democratic freedoms in the name of combating terrorismname of combating terrorism

14 journalists, who have been critical of 14 journalists, who have been critical of Putin’s government, have died under Putin’s government, have died under questionable circumstancesquestionable circumstances

In 2007, he cracked down on civil society In 2007, he cracked down on civil society and freedom of assembly and freedom of assembly

According to the constitution, the Russian According to the constitution, the Russian president can only serve two consecutive president can only serve two consecutive termsterms– Putin cannot run in 2008, but he could in 2012Putin cannot run in 2008, but he could in 2012

Dmitry Medvedev chosen as Putin’s Dmitry Medvedev chosen as Putin’s successor for the United Russia Partysuccessor for the United Russia Party

Medvedev, who will win the 08 Medvedev, who will win the 08 election, nominated Putin for Prime election, nominated Putin for Prime MinisterMinister

Putin pledged not to change the Putin pledged not to change the distribution of authority between distribution of authority between president and PMpresident and PM

Putin becomes the Prime Minister Putin becomes the Prime Minister (2008-2012)(2008-2012)

Dmitry Medvedev Dmitry Medvedev Elected March 2008Elected March 2008 Received 70% of Received 70% of

votevote Seen as Putin’s Seen as Putin’s

puppetpuppet

2008 War in South Ossetia2008 War in South Ossetia Caucasus region Caucasus region

– Region known for Region known for sustained conflict sustained conflict in the border area in the border area with Russia with Russia (Chechnya)(Chechnya)

– important conduit important conduit for the flow of oil for the flow of oil from the Caspian from the Caspian Sea to world Sea to world marketsmarkets

War in South Ossetia War in South Ossetia 1991 - S. Ossetia breaks declares 1991 - S. Ossetia breaks declares

independence from Georgia independence from Georgia – Russian peacekeepers are sent to the region Russian peacekeepers are sent to the region

Recognized as independent by Russia but not Recognized as independent by Russia but not by Georgia by Georgia

2004 – Pres. Saakahvili is elected in Georgia2004 – Pres. Saakahvili is elected in Georgia– Determined to see a united GeorgiaDetermined to see a united Georgia

August 2008 – Fighting breaks out between August 2008 – Fighting breaks out between the Georgian military & South Ossetian the Georgian military & South Ossetian militantsmilitants

Russian military sent to support the S. Russian military sent to support the S. Ossetians Ossetians – Is this a violation of Georgian sovereignty?Is this a violation of Georgian sovereignty?

Putin says that Georgia committed an “act of Putin says that Georgia committed an “act of war” by firing on South Ossetian militantswar” by firing on South Ossetian militants

US State Dept. publically supports Georgia US State Dept. publically supports Georgia – US friendly with Georgian President because he US friendly with Georgian President because he

supports democratic valuesupports democratic value– Georgia trying to gain membership in EUGeorgia trying to gain membership in EU

Seen by many as Russia’s attempt to make the Seen by many as Russia’s attempt to make the world aware of their military re-emergenceworld aware of their military re-emergence

Russia withdrawals troops Russia withdrawals troops – from Georgia at the end of August after a cease-fire is from Georgia at the end of August after a cease-fire is

negotiatednegotiated– From South Ossetia in October (troops remain From South Ossetia in October (troops remain

nearby)nearby) WATCH VIDEO WATCH VIDEO

March 2012 - Putin Wins March 2012 - Putin Wins Presidency (again)Presidency (again)

Amidst wave after wave of protests, Putin Amidst wave after wave of protests, Putin is re-elected with 64% of the voteis re-elected with 64% of the vote

Criticisms of the election: ballot stuffing, Criticisms of the election: ballot stuffing, lack of competition, media bias, using lack of competition, media bias, using government funds to campaigngovernment funds to campaign

Another 8 years? If you include the four Another 8 years? If you include the four years as PM, Putin will be able to hold years as PM, Putin will be able to hold power in Russia for 20 years, coming close power in Russia for 20 years, coming close to Stalin’s reign of 25 yearsto Stalin’s reign of 25 years