Remembering Russia's Constitutional Crisis (And Bloodshed) Twenty Years Ago

Two Russians Walk Into a Parliamentary Crisis... -- Julia Ioffe, The New Republic

What is a president in a presidential constitutional republic to do when faced with an intransigent, bull-headed faction among his people's representatives?

Well, Boris Yeltsin, Russia's first democratically elected president, was once faced with a similar situation exactly 20 years ago, in October 1993. The parliament, then called the Supreme Soviet, was increasingly against Yeltsin's neoliberal economic reforms (suggested to him by young Western advisors like Jeffrey Sachs). On one hand, these reforms freed up the old Soviet command economy. On the other, they drove the country into chaos and violence, and left tens of millions impoverished, their savings nullified by skyrocketing inflation. The parliament, dominated by old Soviet conservatives, was increasingly against these reforms and refused to confirm Yeltsin's key economic advisor. Yeltsin held a national referendum, a sort of national vote of confidence, which he won, and used it as a justification for what he did next.

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My Comment: I arrived in Moscow with my mother to visit my aunt in August of that year (1993). The tension in the air was everywhere .... the poverty and desperation was frightening to see .... the ruble was worthless .... no one was being paid .... Moscow's train stations were filled with the homeless .... and unemployment was at depression levels. I stayed away from the demonstrations, but on the last day of the revolt my curiosity got the best of me and I decided to see what was happening. It was a mistake that almost got me killed. The fighting had died down and instead of leaving the area I ended up talking with a bunch of soldiers .... a few minutes later the T-80s then started to shell the Russian White House. I was about a kilometer or so away .... but the fire power of those tanks shook everything .... and it scared the shit out of me. Two weeks later I left Moscow/Russia .... and I did not return until 7 years later.

Fast forward to today .... I am laughing at the government/political crisis in Washington today. To my Americans readers .... have no idea on how lucky you are .... for now.