Boris Yeltsin


 * First president of modern Russia
 * Ceded power to Vladimir Putin on December 31, 1999
 * Free market reforms
 * Caused rise of "oligarchs"
 * Vice president Alexander Rutskoy caused a consitutional crisis and claimed power
 * Yeltsin barricaded himself in his house and gave a speech atop a tank
 * System of vouchers became known as "shock therapy"
 * Once fell off a bridge while drunk then claimed he was pushed
 * Yabloko party formed to oppose him