We don't appreciate what we have until it's gone. Freedom is like that. It's like air. When you have it, you don't notice it.

"

On 15 May 1999 Yeltsin survived another attempt of impeachment this time by the democratic and communist opposition in the State Duma. To begin these reforms he immediately began gathering in Moscow a younger and more energetic governing team of Communist Party members. It seems he has for a minute for a second for half a minute forgotten that Russia has a full arsenal of nuclear weapons.

He vowed to transform Russia's socialist command economy into a free market economy and implemented economic shock therapy price liberalization and privatization programs. 5% of voters in favour. On 12 June 1991 he was elected by popular vote to the newly created post of President of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (SFSR) at that time one of the 15 constituent republics of the Soviet Union.