RUSSIA – VLADIMIR PUTIN THEN AND NOW

Is Russia going the way of erstwhile USSR Government’s policies and programmes? Sometimes I feel so. After BorisYeltsin who was in the forefront to fight for the disintegration of Soviet Empire and whose Govt devastated the Russian economy within a short span of his rule, he forgot not to elevate Vladimir Putin who was once a part of Russian spy agency KGB to the post of President before his resignation from the higher post. Putin proved to be a different President altogether stern, courageous, determined he tried first to lift the Russian economy from the abyss during the Yeltsin regime. He through his will and vision gradually lifted the economy from the abyss and gave Russia a facelift. His economic policies as well as foreign policies brought Russia into a new place through various means. His attention turned to the defence sector as well. Mr.Putin from the beginning of his occupation of power wanted a Russia capable of speaking, acting and talking from a position of strength. More than his detractors most Russians were proud of the President who extended moral support to his reforms inspite of some flaws during his consolidation of power.

On the foreign policy front, he, from the very outset, couldn’t digest the Super Power policy of USA which during the days of USSR was following a path of confrontation though not directly. It was a period of cold war between the two countries, both Super powers. In the bipolar world there was a polarization of a number of countries either on the side of US or on the side of USSR. On looking back to their period of confrontation there were occasions both reached on the verge of war. For instance the Cuban Missile crisis (1962). The then US President John F Kennedy had to serve an ultimatum to USSR govt to withdraw their warships from the coast of Cuba within 24 hours or get prepared for a war. Krushchev was the President of USS who compared to John F Kennedy displayed maturity and patience and to avert a showdown ordered his warships from the Cuban coast. That was time when the whole world held its breath as they were apprehending a Third World War. As I had already mentioned, compared to Kennedy - a middle-aged person - Krushchev was elder and more experienced, patient and therefore rose to the occasion to avert a showdown.

With the assumption of power by Michael Gorbachev in USSR in 1990, the need for an open society for the masses to breath more freedom arose. Gorbachev wanted an open debate among the Russian which we know by the term Glasnost and a total restructuring which know by the term Perestroika .Glasnost (Open Debate) and Perestroika (total restructuring) did pave the way for the disintegration of Soviet Union in the long run the empire got segregated into various countries. Though Gorbachev paved the way for disintegration of the empire. It was Boris Yeltsin an anti –communist captured power who installed himself as the President of Russia in 1991. The rest in history we are conversant with.

The bi-polar world turned into Unipolar world and with the declining power of US among the comity of nations a multi-polar world has come into existence eventhough US is not ready to ‘shed’ its Super power status.

In the place of USSR it was Russia under the suzerainty of Putin posed a challenge to US and that indirect rivalry is still noticed

After eight years in the highest post of President, it was time for Putin to vacate his position. Meanwhile he had already fished out a loyal successor, Dmitry Medvedev he found as a close confident and nominated Mr.Medvedev for the post of President who was serving as the Prime Minister. And Mr.Putin shifted his position to the Prime Minister’s portfolio. As desired by Putin, his mentor’s advice was music to Medvedev’s ears. There was not a single instance of collision between the two. Put it simply it was Putin himself who held the reigns of power.

After their term as President and Prime Minister ended Putin and Medvedev jointly decided to exchange their positions, means, Putin shifted to the post of President and Medvedev to the post of Prime Minister. That decision naturally enraged the Russians as they found they had no role in the decision taken by the two on their own.

The entire Russia revolted and from the day, the parliamentary results came out. They charged the duo with playing foul in the elections. The streets overflowed with the protestors demanding the resignation of Putin. The riots continued unabated and both of them found to be in a spot. Still they held on to power with the help of the armed forces controlled the demonstrators.

After occupying the saddle Putin brought about drastic reforms to curtail the freedom of the masses, to censor the social networking sites which contributed a lot of inspiration to the Russians. The people who once applauded and appreciated Putin hated him from the very moment the latter and Medvedev decided to exchange their posts unilaterally without the consent of people. Putin’s popularity rating which was on the upsiding showed a deep downswing. At present he is the most hated President of Russia.