Alexander Rutskoy

Alexander Rutskoy
Александр Руцкой
Rutskoy in 2016
Acting President of Russia
(disputed)
In office
22 September 1993 – 4 October 1993
Preceded byBoris Yeltsin
Succeeded byBoris Yeltsin
Vice President of Russia
In office
10 July 1991 – 4 October 1993
PresidentBoris Yeltsin
Preceded byOffice created
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Governor of Kursk Oblast
In office
23 October 1996 – 18 November 2000
PresidentBoris Yeltsin
Vladimir Putin
Preceded byVasily Shuteyev
Succeeded byAlexander Mikhailov
Personal details
Born (1947-09-16) 16 September 1947 (age 77)
Proskuriv, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine)
CitizenshipSoviet (1947–1991)
Russian (1991–present)
Political partyIndependent
Other political
affiliations
Patriots of Russia (2016)
Derzhava (1995–1998)
DPCR/NPSR (1991–1994)
CP RSFSR (1990–1991)
CPSU (1970–1991)
Spouse(s)Nellie Zolotukhin (div.)
Lyudmila Novikova (div.)
Irina Popova
ChildrenDmitry
Alexander
Rostislav
Catherine
AwardsHero of the Soviet Union (1988)
Signature
Military service
Allegiance Soviet Union
 Russia
Branch/service Soviet Air Force
Russian Air Force
Years of service1971–1993
RankMajor general[a]

Alexander Vladimirovich Rutskoy (Russian: Александр Владимирович Руцкой; born 16 September 1947) is a Russian politician and former Soviet military officer who served as the only vice president of Russia[note 1] from 1991 to 1993. He was proclaimed acting president following Boris Yeltsin's impeachment during the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis, in which he played a key role.[1][2]

Born in Proskuriv, Ukraine (modern Khmelnytskyi), Rutskoy served with great distinction as an air force officer during the Soviet–Afghan War, for which he was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. In the 1991 Russian presidential election, he was chosen by Boris Yeltsin to be his vice-presidential running mate, but later became increasingly critical of Yeltsin's economic and foreign policies. In late September 1993, Yeltsin ordered the unconstitutional dissolution of the Russian parliament. In response, the parliament immediately annulled his decree, impeached him and proclaimed Rutskoy acting president. After a two-week standoff and popular unrest, Yeltsin ordered the military to storm the parliament building, arrested Rutskoy and formally dismissed him as vice president. He was imprisoned until early 1994 when the State Duma granted him amnesty.

In 1996, Rutskoy was elected governor of Kursk Oblast, a post he held until 2000. He was barred from seeking a second term by a regional court over alleged abuse of power.


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  1. ^ Rosenberg, Steven (3 October 2003). "Remembering Russia's civil siege". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 10 April 2008.
  2. ^ Bendersky, Yevgeny (23 February 2005). "CIVIL SOCIETY. WHEN THE IMPOSITION OF WESTERN DEMOCRACY CAUSES A BACKLASH". EurasiaNet and PINR. Archived from the original on 13 August 2008. Retrieved 10 April 2008.