US absolutely put the final nail in the coffin with the 1996 Russian election.
The KPRF had a majority in Congress and, if Gennady Zyuganov were elected, Russia would align itself 100% with China. I doubt he would restore the Soviet Union or the Warsaw Pact, but I could see Russia financially supporting left-wing parties in Europe and being a little less reactionary.
Yes! IIRC electorally, it looked like the Russians were just going to elect socialists and communists (with some socdems sprinkled in there). In order to prevent that, the US supported Yeltsin consolidating power within the executive and making the legislature relatively powerless.
It’s a good thing were no unintended consequences later on associated with having a powerful president…
The KPRF had a majority in Congress and, if Gennady Zyuganov were elected, Russia would align itself 100% with China. I doubt he would restore the Soviet Union or the Warsaw Pact, but I could see Russia financially supporting left-wing parties in Europe and being a little less reactionary.
Yes! IIRC electorally, it looked like the Russians were just going to elect socialists and communists (with some socdems sprinkled in there). In order to prevent that, the US supported Yeltsin consolidating power within the executive and making the legislature relatively powerless.
It’s a good thing were no unintended consequences later on associated with having a powerful president…