Khasbulatov, Ruslan (1943- )

Russian politician, chair of the Supreme Soviet 1991-93. As Russian first vice-president, he was a strong supporter of Boris Yeltsin, but from 1991 relations between the two deteriorated and Khasbulatov repeatedly tried to block the Russian leader's economic and political reforms. His critics accused him of shifting his ideological ground to pursue his personal ambitions. In September 1993 he was arrested and imprisoned after leading a rebellion against Yeltsin, but was granted an amnesty and released in February 1994. He subsequently announced his retirement from national politics, but in December 1995 contested the leadership elections in his native Chechnya.