Yegor Gaidar facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yegor Gaidar Егор Гайдар
Gaidar in 1999
Prime Minister of Russia Acting
In office 15 June 1992 – 15 December 1992
President	Boris Yeltsin
First Deputy	Vladimir Shumeyko
Preceded by	Boris Yeltsin (acting)
Succeeded by	Viktor Chernomyrdin
First Deputy Prime Minister of Russia
In office 18 September 1993 – 20 January 1994
Prime Minister	Viktor Chernomyrdin
In office 2 March 1992 – 15 December 1992
President	Boris Yeltsin
Minister of Finance
In office 11 November 1991 – 2 April 1992
President	Boris Yeltsin
Preceded by	Igor Lazarev
Succeeded by	Vasily Barchuk
Personal details
Born	Yegor Timurovich Gaidar (1956-03-19)19 March 1956 Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Died	16 December 2009(2009-12-16) (aged 53) Odintsovo, Russia
Political party	Union of Rightist Forces (2001–2008)
Other political affiliations	CPSU (1980–1991) Democratic Choice (1994–2001)
Spouses	Irina Smirnova (div.) Maria Strugatskaya
Children	3; including Maria
Alma mater	Lomonosov Moscow State University
Signature

Yegor Timurovich Gaidar (Russian: Его́р Тиму́рович Гайда́р; 19 March 1956 – 16 December 2009) was an important Soviet and Russian economist and politician. He served as the Acting Prime Minister of Russia from June to December 1992.

Gaidar is known for leading major economic changes in Russia after the Soviet Union broke apart. These changes, sometimes called "shock therapy," aimed to quickly move Russia from a state-controlled economy to a free market. His work brought both praise and strong criticism. Some people blamed him for the economic problems in the 1990s, like high prices and poverty. Others believed he made necessary choices to prevent Russia from collapsing completely.

Early Life and Family

Yegor Gaidar was born in 1956 in Moscow, which was then part of the Soviet Union. His father, Timur Gaidar, was a military reporter. His paternal grandfather was the famous Soviet writer Arkady Gaidar. His maternal grandfather was also a writer, Pavel Bazhov.

Gaidar married the daughter of writer Arkady Strugatsky. His own daughter, Maria Gaidar, later became a leader in Russia's democratic opposition. She also held important government positions in Russia and Ukraine.

Career in Government

Gaidar studied economics at Moscow State University and graduated with high honors in 1978. He worked as a researcher for many years. He was a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and even an editor for a party magazine during the time of perestroika (changes in the Soviet Union).

In 1991, he left the Communist Party and joined the government of Boris Yeltsin, who was then the President of Russia.

Economic Reforms

As part of the government, Gaidar pushed for major economic changes. He believed in a "shock therapy" approach to create a market economy. His most famous decision was to remove government control over prices. This meant prices immediately went up a lot, but it also allowed a market economy to start working in Russia. He also cut government spending on the military and reduced financial help for industries.

Gaidar served as the First Vice-Premier of the Russian Government and Minister of Economics from 1991 to 1992. He was also the Minister of Finance for a short time.

Acting Prime Minister

In 1992, President Boris Yeltsin appointed Gaidar as the Acting Prime Minister of Russia. He held this role from June to December. However, the Russian Congress of People's Deputies did not approve him for the full position. Instead, Viktor Chernomyrdin became Prime Minister.

Gaidar continued to advise the new government. In September 1993, he was again appointed First Vice-Premier. He played an active role during the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis, a difficult time when there was a conflict between the president and parliament. On October 3, 1993, he famously spoke on television, asking people in Moscow to gather and support Yeltsin's government.

In the 1993 elections for the Duma (Russian parliament), Gaidar led a pro-government group called Russia's Choice. After his group did not win the most votes, his role in the government became smaller, and he resigned in January 1994.

In 1999, Yegor Gaidar, along with Boris Nemtsov and Boris Fyodorov, went to Belgrade, Yugoslavia, to try and help find a peaceful solution during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia.

Health Incident

In November 2006, Gaidar traveled to Dublin, Ireland, to present his book. After having breakfast, he suddenly felt very sick. He collapsed and was rushed to a hospital. His colleagues described him as unconscious and bleeding. The next day, he was moved to the Russian embassy and then transferred to Moscow. Doctors in Moscow suggested that his sudden illness seemed unusual.

Gaidar in 2008

Death

Yegor Gaidar passed away at the age of 53 on December 16, 2009, at his home near Moscow. His aide said he died unexpectedly while working on a book for children. Doctors later stated that he died from pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) caused by myocardial ischemia (a heart condition).

Many people in Russia had strong feelings about Gaidar because of the economic changes he led. However, many important figures, including Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, expressed their sadness and respect for him. The White House also offered condolences, recognizing his role in forming Russia's market economy.

Gaidar Forum

To honor Yegor Gaidar, an event called the Gaidar Forum is held every year in Russia in mid-January. This forum brings together important Russian politicians and business leaders, as well as top European politicians. It is a place where Russia's views on many topics are discussed.

Academic and Political Roles

Positions held

• Director of the Institute for Economy in Transition
• Executive Vice-President of the International Democratic Union
• Steering Committee member "Arrabida Meetings" (Portugal)
• Member of the Baltic Sea Cooperation Council
• Member of the Editorial Board of "Vestnik Evropy" (Moscow)
• Member of the Advisory Board of the "Acta Oeconomica" (Budapest)
• Member of the Advisory Board of the CASE Foundation (Warsaw)
• Member of the International Advisory Board of the Moscow School of Management SKOLKOVO (Moscow)

Honorary positions

• Honorary Professor, University of California, Berkeley
• Terry Sanford Distinguished Lecturer, Duke University
• Honorary Academy member of the Ukrainian Academy of Management
• Honorary Director, Russia-Ukraine Institute for Personnel and Management

See also

In Spanish: Yegor Gaidar para niños

• Leszek Balcerowicz - a person who led similar economic reforms in Poland.