In his political career, Boris Yeltsin had come to power after former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev had promoted him, and he went on to win international popularity as a defender of freedom when he mounted a tank in Moscow in August 1991.
Boris Yeltsin will also be remembered for rallying the people against an attempt to overthrow Mikhail Gorbachev in what was known as the era of glasnost and perestroika.
However, Boris Yeltsin’s final years in office saw a serious decline in his popularity and success as a leader, with periods of illness and a rumoured alcohol problem only making things worse, and on the last day of the 20th Century he announced his retirement as president.
Vladimir Putin, who took over from Boris Yeltsin, is reported to have telephoned Mr Yeltsin's widow, Naina, expressing his condolences on her husband’s death.
