ABSTRACT
The resurrection of Boris Yeltsin’s political career began in 1989. Following his dismissal from his position as Moscow party leader in November 1987, most observers – as indeed the Soviet leadership – considered that Yeltsin’s political career was likely over. Gorbachev, perhaps out of sympathy, gave him a minor post as deputy minister for construction. In March 1989, the Central Committee began an investigation of his advocacy of a multi-party system in the Soviet Union. Yeltsin’s popularity in Moscow, however, was evident. While the investigation was under way, about 10,000 people demonstrated in his support in the streets of Moscow. Yeltsin also announced that he would be a candidate in the forthcoming elections to the Congress of People’s Deputies. Despite official obstructions and harassment, the voters of the Moscow district in which Yeltsin ran voted overwhelmingly for his candidacy, and with more than 90 per cent of the popular vote, his political career began to take off once again.
