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home / archives / 1992 / 21st August

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Free speech!

Boris Nikeleyvich Yeltsin was the first President of the Russian Federation elected by popular vote on 12th June, 1991. He succeeded Mikhail Gorbechev as leader of the what had just become the Commonwealth of Independent States. Gorbechev while trying to bring in reforms, came under criticism as many felt the rate of reform was too slow and was forced to resign as President of the USSR on the 25th of December 1991.

Meanwhile back in Australia, Paul Keating had taken over from Bob Hawke on 20th December 1991 as leader of the Labor Party after his second challenge to Hawke's leadership, becoming Prime Minister as a result.