Title: Boris Yeltsin | Russia | The Guardian
Headings: Boris Yeltsin
Russia
Boris Yeltsin
Jonathan Steele

Content: The house was becoming a focal point for low-key demonstrations and Moscow wanted it removed. After Gorbachev came to power in March 1985 and started his perestroika reforms, Yeltsin was invited to join the Politburo as a non-voting member. His dynamism made him seem a good man. He was put in charge of running Moscow. Although he launched himself into the new job with energy and created a populist image with well-publicised trips on buses and trams, he began to lose patience when he ran into opposition from entrenched bureaucrats. By the summer of 1987 he was anxious to move. At a spectacular session of the Central Committee in October, which was meant to concentrate exclusively on Gorbachev's draft speech celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Revolution, Yeltsin criticised Gorbachev and announced he would resign from the Politburo. His action started a rift between the two men that was never healed. The immediate crisis was hushed up, but after the anniversary celebrations Yeltsin was summoned to a meeting of the Moscow branch of the party where he was sacked as city leader. But instead of being removed from the scene altogether, as would have happened under earlier Soviet leaders, Yeltsin was given a second chance.