The expected, yet sudden decision to cancel Boris Yeltsin's trip to
Vienna proved the most pessimistic forecasts that even the closest associates
of the once powerful Russian leader, family included, are no longer able
to stimulate the President's activity. His visit to Central Asia was the
final test of his strength, which he failed to pass. He resisted, doing
his utmost, appearing in the Kremlin and getting prepared for the visit.
Moreover, it was generally believed that even if Mr. Primakov filled in
for the Chief Executive, President Yeltsin would attend top level multilateral
meetings, despite his physical condition.
However, nature had its way. A council of physicians was called to approve
the visit which would be first shortened and then called off. The verdict
sounded unusual: asthenia. Even without a detailed explanation rendered
on some of the Russian television channels it is clear that Boris Yeltsin's
physical strength has been dramatically depleted, meaning inevitable retirement,
even though "preliminary" at this stage. On the other hand, if the giant
gets exhausted, does this mean that the dwarves get taller? Will the Russian
political elite allow the ailing President to live at the Gorky Soviet
government retreat where Lenin died, until 2000 or will it start circling
the still warm Presidential seat now, forgetting all about the financial
crisis, the government's incapacity, and economic decline, remembering
only that the King is dead, long live the King?
Only time will tell what Russia was all about at the transitional stage,
still with Boris Yeltsin but no longer ruled by him. The worst that could
happen would be Mr. Yeltsin's pathological weakness spreading over society
as a whole, confused by economic hardships and paralyzed political power,
with the medical notion of asthenic syndrome becoming the final political
diagnosis. There is at present no one capable of curing Russia of its asthenia,
because its chief political physician over the past several years is in
a bad shape and needs help and sympathy.






