Boris Yeltsin, the radical populist who campaigned for transformation of the Soviet economy on the principles of free enterprise, may have won a solid victory Wednesday as the first elected president of Russia. He appeared certain of the absolute majority of more than 50 percent needed on the first ballot, avoiding a runoff. A Yeltsin victory would represent a distinct threat to Gorbachev, who never faced a popular election. But in an election that was widely seen as rigged and marred by allegations of fraud, Putin emerged with a clear majority. Born: Feb 1, 1931, in Butka, Siberia, in Russian republic; (box) Preliminary reports from widely diverse constituencies indicate an impressive victory.
Boris Yeltsin, the radical populist who campaigned for transformation of the Soviet economy on the principles of free enterprise, may have won a solid victory Wednesday as the first elected president of Russia. He appeared certain of the absolute majority of more than 50 percent needed on the first ballot, avoiding a runoff. A Yeltsin victory would represent a distinct threat to Gorbachev, who never faced a popular election. But in an election that was widely seen as rigged and marred by allegations of fraud, Putin emerged with a clear majority. Preliminary reports from widely diverse constituencies indicate an impressive victory.