Post-Soviet Russia in the adventurous 1990's - the Wild Decade

Derrick Widmer, an executive at the Swiss Holderbank (Holcim) Cement Group, travelled to Moscow, with his assistant, in December of 1991, 15 months following the downfall of the Soviet Union, a visit prompted by an invitation extended by the Russian Alfa Investment Fund. In 1991,it was apparent to any visitor that the political and economic structures of the country had been shattered and the population impoverished, except for a few businessmen (bisnessmeni) who had quickly become rich and who ultimately became the nucleus of a rising social class referred to as the oligarchs. The country verged on anarchy and total collapse. Law was meaningless, might made right and wealth walked hand-in-hand with death. Mr. Widmer, the author, experienced these wild years of Post-Soviet Russia in the 90's as a contemporary witness. His fascinating insights into the underlying forces that forged the political and economic transformation of the country are insights gained from his first-hand encounters with famous politicians, oligarchs, bankers and lawyers. His initial perception of Russia, shaped by the many years of the Cold War, was, following these visits, dramatically changed, from that of enemy to friend.

Derrick Widmer together with his assistant travelled to Moscow 15 months after the downfall of the Soviet Union in December 1991 at the invitation of the Russian Alfa Investment Fond. The political and economic climate is shattered, the population impoverished and in transition: The dramatic liberalization of prizes and the privatization of the state-owned enterprises was perceived as a shock-therapy. This was done via auctions where vouchers were being changed into shares. The vouchers were given for free to the population, whereby the former Red Directors received much more vouchers than normal citizens which eventually led to the rise of the oligarchs. In the 1990's Russia went through an enormous economic, social and political transition. For fearless Businessmen (Bisnessmeni) to make a bonanza required good relations with powerful politicians, members of the secret service and contacts with organized crime. A package of shares had sometimes more value than human lives. The country verged on anarchy and collapse. Laws were meaningless, might made right and wealth walked hand in hand with death. Derrick Widmer experienced these wild years of the Post-Soviet Russia as a contemporary witness. In his book he gives fascinating insights in encounters with famous politicians, oligarchs, bankers and lawyers. He perceived Russia after the cold war no more as enemy but as friend and based on his experience he developed a better understanding for the large complex country, Russian thinking and the Russian soul.

BELLETRISTIK , SONSTIGES ALLERLEI

Autorentext

Derrick Widmer studierte Rechtswissenschaften an der Universität Bern, an der University of Chicago Law School, Universität von Mexico D. F. und an der Harvard Business School, Cambridge, USA. Er ist ehemaliger Direktor bei Holcim Group Support, Oberst der Militärjustiz a.D., Gründer und langjähriger Präsident der Swiss-Indian Chamber of Commerce, Honorarkonsul der Republik Kasachstan, Präsident von educationsuisse (17 Schweizer Schulen im Ausland) und Vorstandsmitglied von Stiftungen für Entwicklungsarbeit in Lateinamerika. "Kunst in Holderbank" ist die dritte Veröffentlichung des Autors im novum Verlag.