Yeltsin vs Putin

[Old Man Willow]

Which was the better leader of Russia, and which the better person?

[TNF]

Putin has by far been the better leader of Russia, given that when he assumed office, the country was basically in shambles because of the restoration of capitalism, and throughout his term of office, he's made at least some attempt to rein in some of the more blatant abuses of power by the oligarchs and restored some of Russia's standing in the world. That said, his politics are grotesque and I'd not vote for him were I Russian, nor would I have supported the Yeltsin-led counterrevolution in 1991.

[SATW]

Any intelligent person would realize that Putin is a much preferable leader to Yeltsin.

[TDAS04]

Option 3

[Antonio the Sixth]

This is like asking cancer vs. bubonic plague.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Option 3, Putin is more competent, and Yeltsin was less evil. I knew Putin was evil as soon as he showed up. Yeltsin was just an alcoholic, really.

[The Last Northerner]

The one that did not contribute to the geopolitical disaster known as the collaspe of the USSR.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Option 3, I guess.

The one is competent, but ruthless... the other was incompetent, but harmless.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

I would make an argument that Putin's reckless endangerment regarding his nuclear weapons (which is actually more hawkish and casual than any USSR leader) and 19th century style foreign policy grandstanding; could have a far worse consequence than Yeltsin, who was merely a dreadfully incompetent drunk who didn't understand economics. His economic sucess was mainly based on the commodities boom as well, and he merely replaced one set of oligarchs with another.

Russia really has had a bum deal with leaders, it seems.

[Cory]

Boris Yeltsin was probably the most incompetent leader Russia has since Czar Nicholas II.

[SWE]

Write-in: Bring back Lenin

[RogueBeaver]

Yeltsin/Yeltsin. Putin's much more competent but he's also dangerous, as CrabCake said.