Sergei Bassine '94 said when he returned home to St. Petersburg this summer it "was like a different planet" compared to the world he had known only a year ago.
The political turmoil in Russia has hit home for College students who hail from the former Soviet Union and for students and professors currently in Moscow on a foreign study program.
Two weeks ago, Russian President Boris Yeltsin dissolved the Russian Parliament, because he said it was interfering with reforms he was trying to implement.
The legislature then revolted and barricaded itself inside the Parliament building. Last week, Yeltsin ousted the radical nationalists and communists from the building and had them arrested, forcing a violent showdown between the military and the radicals.
As they have followed the conflicts in their homeland, many of the College's Russian students said they are uncertain about the future of their country.
Bassine said he was disturbed by the violence that he saw during his visit.
"I saw people shot in the street," Bassine said. "It was like America in 1930s, only the equipment is better now."
"The system of jurisprudence has vanished," Bassine said. "There's no way to punish anybody."
Moscow native Alexander Panov '96 said the people of Moscow are less concerned with politics than they are with day-to-day essentials.
Panov said he thinks the political situation in Russia is deteriorating.
"The situation was much more dangerous than the last coup," Panov said. "Now, within the democratic forces, there is a split-up."
Panov said the problem is that Yeltsin's foes present themselves as the true representatives of the people, but Yeltsin claims that title for himself.
"The problems in Russia are pretty far from resolution," Panov added.
Bassine said the wrong people in Russia still hold the political power, causing the political turmoil.
"The people who had the money and power [under the old regime] still have the money and power," Bassine said.
Bassine also said humanitarian-aid money was ending up in the hands of organized crime bosses.
Russian Department Chair Richard Sheldon said there are 10 Dartmouth students, mostly juniors, in Moscow on a foreign study program.
Several parents of the Dartmouth students in Russia called Sheldon to say they are concerned with their children's safety, Sheldon said.
But Russian Professor Lenore Grenoble, who accompanied the students on the trip, decided the situation in Russia was not dangerous enough to consider evacuating to a nearby country, Sheldon said.
The students are staying at Moscow University, which Sheldon said is located far from the turmoil at the Parliament building.
"I have a feeling [the Russian political situation] will settle down," Sheldon said.
Government Professor Tom Nichols said he doubted the potential for wide-scale political violence.
Nichols said typical urban street crime is more likely to affect Dartmouth students in Moscow than political violence.
"The students are in no more danger than if they were in New York or Los Angeles," Nichols said.
Nichols said the Oct. 3 showdown was isolated in one part of Moscow.
The situation in Russia is now more stable because Yeltsin routed the rebels early and solidified his claim to authority, Nichols said.
