You're Fired! You're Hired

In a burst of vigor, the ailing Yeltsin proves he's still in charge by upending his Cabinet

Of all the transformations under way in Russia, the one at the top will have to be watched most carefully: Boris Yeltsin is turning into Leonid Brezhnev right before our eyes. In a rerun of the Kremlin drama circa 1978, the President is ever more frail and shambling, his eyes glazed and his speech slurred. He rules like a czar--from on high, without much attention to detail, and by decree. Like Brezhnev, Yeltsin has no intention of stepping down, and the people around him will do anything to keep him in power, lest they lose their own. Last week they launched...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!