Egor Isaev

Between September and October 1993 an internal political conflict unfolded in the Russian Federation between Russian President Boris Yeltsin’s government and opponents led by Vice President Alexander Rutskoi. The result of the confrontation was a violent end to the transitional period’s democracy, followed by armed clashes in the streets of Moscow and subsequent uncoordinated military action, during which at least 157 people died and 384 were wounded. These events marked a critical juncture in Russian history, signifying the rise of an authoritarian turn in the country. The investigation into the events was never completed. As a result, society in Russia still lacks clear answers to a number of key questions about the tragic events that took place.

Egor Isaev aims to delve into the historical significance and ramifications of this internal political conflict. He seeks to shed light on the causes and consequences of the Moscow events of October 3-4, 1993, commonly referred to as the Shooting of the White House, and analyze its lasting impact on Russian politics over the past three decades. Important not only because of the need to identify the moment when the authoritarian turn in Russia began, but also out of the necessity to draw attention to the phenomenon of an opposition coalition between the extreme right and the radical left against neo-liberal capitalists, which is becoming increasingly relevant today.