The smooth liberals who Yeltsin tipped for greatness are now staring into the political abyss, writes Daniel McLaughlin from Moscow
They were the poster boys and girls of Russia's fledgling capitalism, the young, smooth, English-speaking reformers who President Boris Yeltsin tipped for greatness when he shoved his faltering country along the road to democracy and the free market.
A decade on, the now 40-something liberals are staring into the political abyss after Russians kicked them out of the lower house of parliament - the State Duma - in Sunday's election.
The Union of Right-Wing Forces (SPS) and Yabloko parties took a fierce beating from Kremlin loyalists and nationalists, who played on popular animosity towards the tycoons who emerged as the young reformers who shaped 1990s Russia under Mr Yeltsin.
For many here they will forever be associated with that rollercoaster decade, the economic "shock therapy" that sent prices spiralling, the financial crises that reduced people's life savings to a pittance, and the creation of a handful of "oligarchs" who built fortunes amid the chaos.
On Sunday both main liberal parties missed the 5 per cent mark granting automatic access to the legislature, leaving them in the wilderness for the next four years, and ridding President Vladimir Putin of some of his most vocal parliamentary critics.
They say the former KGB man is determined to crush free media and political opponents, most prominently Mr Mikhail Khodorkovsky, an oil baron financier of SPS and Yabloko who is in jail fighting charges of massive tax evasion and fraud.
Mr Anatoly Chubais, the privatisation guru who now jointly leads SPS, has been the most outspoken defender of Mr Khodorkovsky, lambasting the Kremlin hardliners he says are behind the arrest. He has done this as many other magnates have slipped into the shadows and quietly pledged allegiance to Mr Putin.
Mr Chubais and his allies were easily demonised by Mr Putin's populist supporters.
In televised debates, the liberals' sharp rhetoric regularly embarrassed their stolid opponents, but the same savvy that the West admired alienated many Russians, who saw only flash elitists with no link to the "real Russia", where wages are tiny and basic services are decrepit.
Yabloko led its campaign on a social justice platform, while SPS sold itself as the party of business: their election adverts showed leaders Mr Boris Nemtsov, Ms Irina Khakamada and Mr Chubais chatting animatedly on a luxurious private jet.
Mr Nemtsov said the new Duma would be practically devoid of "those who defend people's choice, independent press, independent courts, a separation of powers, who have always spoken out for co-operation with Europe".
Yabloko leader Mr Grigory Yavlinksy said the liberals had little chance against the might of the Kremlin-backed United Russia party. "The administration has greatly affected the election's outcome. They are responsible for United Russia's victory."
Animosity between SPS and Yabloko caused a split in the liberal vote, with Mr Yavlinsky refusing to countenance an alliance with a party containing Mr Chubais, whom he blames for the corrupt privatisations of the 1990s.
Mr Chubais said the two parties had to reassess their positions.
"What we must do now is analyse our mistakes and not place the blame on anyone but ourselves. This is what we feared most, a national-socialist Duma. And we must spend the next four years trying to destroy this threat."
But a more stark political reality faces the liberals. "A new political era is beginning," said Mr Vladislav Surkov, a deputy head of the presidential administration. "Parties who did not make it into the Duma should take it calmly and understand that their historic mission is finished."