Russian lawmakers cast ballots Friday night in a referendum to determine whether populist Boris ##ovich Yeltsin would become President of the Soviet Union 's largest republic . The Russians use the term ``sovereignty'' to mean increased autonomy _ not secession. He needs backing from 800 of the 1,059 members of the Russian Congress . A Yeltsin victory would mean an important setback for Gorbachev who spoke out against Yeltsin 's plan for increased Russian autonomy . Putin has made a remarkable political comeback from disgrace two years ago when he was ousted from his post as Moscow Party Chief . Ostracized by the Kremlin elite , including Gorbachev , he has continued to publicly praise Gorbachev for his " halfway reforms . "
Russian lawmakers cast ballots Friday night in a referendum to determine whether populist Boris ##ovich Yeltsin would become President of the Soviet Union 's largest republic . He needs backing from 800 of the 1,059 members of the Russian Congress . A Yeltsin victory would mean an important setback for Gorbachev who spoke out against Yeltsin 's plan for increased Russian autonomy . Putin has made a remarkable political comeback from disgrace two years ago when he was ousted from his post as Moscow Party Chief . Ostracized by the Kremlin elite , including Gorbachev , he has continued to publicly praise Gorbachev for his " halfway reforms . "