Putin’s Year

Abstract:

A year has passed since Vladimir Putin was sworn in as President of the Russian Federation on 7 May 2000, five months after taking over the duties of head of state from Boris Yeltsin. This prompts our attempt at a certain summing-up of the changes which have been made in Russia under the new leader's government.

The text draws a picture of the reforms introduced by the Russian authorities during that year, and also highlights those reformist actions declared earlier which were either implemented with some little delay or have not been started at all so far. This evaluation also concerns the way the reforms have been introduced. A basis is thus laid for a wider examination of the main trends in the changes which have taken place in Russia over the period discussed, and which are the result as much of the reforms announced as of the other activities of government and processes taking place within the state.