Statesman.
The Prime Minister of Yeltsin in nearly all of the 1990s. The former Gazprom manager was brought to the cabinet as a compromise candidate.
Background
Lived: 1938-2010.
Viktor Chernomyrdin was an educated engineer. He made his career in the gas and oil industry and became Gorbachev’s Minister of the Gas Industry in 1985.
When the Soviet Union collapsed, Chernomyrdin was one of the pioneers to restructure his ministry into a state owned gas company named Gazprom.
Prime Minister (1992-98)
After six months of radical reforms, Yegor Gaidar ‘s term as Prime Minister came to an end because he completely lost his support. Yeltsin then introduced Chernomyrdin as his next candidate.
Viktor Chernomyrdin served as Prime Minister for six years (1992-98). His ministry did not solve the economic problems as was expected. Nevertheless, Chernomyrdin’s moderate ministry survived the financial collapse of 1994 as well as the Chechen War of 1995.
Fall from power
Chernomyrdin’s “Our Home Is Russia” party failed considerably in the 1996 presidential elections and he withdrew his candidacy. Yeltsin appointed him for another term in 1998 but he did not get enough support. He was then sent as an ambassador to Ukraine.
Viktor Chernomyrdin
Statesman.
The Prime Minister of Yeltsin in nearly all of the 1990s. The former Gazprom manager was brought to the cabinet as a compromise candidate.
Background
Lived: 1938-2010.
Viktor Chernomyrdin was an educated engineer. He made his career in the gas and oil industry and became Gorbachev’s Minister of the Gas Industry in 1985.
When the Soviet Union collapsed, Chernomyrdin was one of the pioneers to restructure his ministry into a state owned gas company named Gazprom.
Prime Minister (1992-98)
After six months of radical reforms, Yegor Gaidar ‘s term as Prime Minister came to an end because he completely lost his support. Yeltsin then introduced Chernomyrdin as his next candidate.
Viktor Chernomyrdin served as Prime Minister for six years (1992-98). His ministry did not solve the economic problems as was expected. Nevertheless, Chernomyrdin’s moderate ministry survived the financial collapse of 1994 as well as the Chechen War of 1995.
Fall from power
Chernomyrdin’s “Our Home Is Russia” party failed considerably in the 1996 presidential elections and he withdrew his candidacy. Yeltsin appointed him for another term in 1998 but he did not get enough support. He was then sent as an ambassador to Ukraine.
Yevgeny Primakov