Who became the first democratically elected President of Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union?

Who became the first democratically elected President of Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union?

• A. Vladimir Putin
• B. Mikhail Gorbachev
• C. Boris Yeltsin
• D. Dmitry Medvedev

Answer: (C)

After the Soviet Union collapsed, Russia moved to direct popular elections for the presidency. Boris Yeltsin won the first such election in 1991, becoming the first democratically elected President of the Russian Federation. This distinguishes him from leaders who were already in power before the collapse or who rose to the presidency later. Vladimir Putin didn’t become president until 2000, Dmitry Medvedev in 2008, and Mikhail Gorbachev was the last leader of the USSR, not the first post-Soviet president. So the correct choice is Boris Yeltsin.

After the Soviet Union collapsed, Russia moved to direct popular elections for the presidency. Boris Yeltsin won the first such election in 1991, becoming the first democratically elected President of the Russian Federation. This distinguishes him from leaders who were already in power before the collapse or who rose to the presidency later. Vladimir Putin didn’t become president until 2000, Dmitry Medvedev in 2008, and Mikhail Gorbachev was the last leader of the USSR, not the first post-Soviet president. So the correct choice is Boris Yeltsin.