Lebed, Aleksander Ivanovich

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Lebed, Aleksander Ivanovich (1950–2002) Russian general and politician. As commander of the Tula Airborne Troops Division, he stood guard at the Supreme Soviet building during the attempted coup of August 1991. Running against Yeltsin in the 1996 presidential elections, Lebed's support was such that Yeltsin offered him a government position to win his votes. He was appointed national security adviser but dismissed later in 1996. Lebed died in a helicopter crash.

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