In the summer of 1996, during the presidential elections, the communists had, essentially, their last opportunity to regain dominion over the country. It seemed to many then that Russia was already firmly on the democratic rails, and nothing could move it from these rails. However, as the elections approached, it became clear that this, alas, was not the case. The popularity of the current President Boris Yeltsin was melting with each month, his “rating” was rapidly approaching zero, and it became clear to everyone: electing Yeltsin for a second term was almost impossible. And the chances of his rival, communist Gennady Zyuganov, continued to grow... The author of this book tells how the struggle of these two then leaders of irreconcilable political forces proceeded.