1、Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS20525March 24, 2000Russian Presidential Election: 2000(name redacted)Specialist in Russian AffairsForeign Affairs, Defense, and Trade DivisionSummaryRussian President Boris Yeltsins
2、resignation at the end of 1999 elevated his little-known Premier, Vladimir Putin, to Acting President and set the scene for a presidentialelection on March 26, 2000 that Putin is considered certain to win. There is uncertaintyin Russia and the West as to what sort of leader Putin might be. Some view
3、 him as anauthoritarian, others as a pragmatic reformer. There is evidence to support either view.The character and policies of post-Yeltsin Russia affect a variety of important U.S.political, military, and economic interests.IntroductionOn December 31, 1999, Russian President Boris Yeltsin abruptly
4、 resigned, sixmonths before the scheduled end of his second term. Vladimir Putin, whom Yeltsin hadelevated from relative obscurity only five months earlier to become Russias fifth premierin 18 months, automatically became Acting President. An election was scheduled forMarch 26, 2000. Putins politica
