From a completely unrelated article, but perhaps it explains a bit about those glorious days of Yeltsin-land, when the FSU's KGB/FSB was seducing our government agents.
(In 1991) The 'united and powerful' Soviet Union was already breathing funeral incense, and given an official order to die with the signing of the Belovezhskiy agreement. Belovezh' was preceded the putsch in Moscow, which discredited central authority and returned it to the hands of democratic politicians and the bureaucracy. Political instinct now became the nation's basic instinct. The populace infected itself with politics, and a 'childhood disease' known as town-hall democracy became epidemic. Specialists in the field of psychiatry speculate that such upheavals often lead to a psychopathic society, and mental health problems in many people. Given these conditions, it is possible to introduce any idea whatsoever into the subconscious of the populace.
"In 1991) The 'united and powerful' Soviet Union was already breathing funeral incense, and given an official order to die with the signing of the Belovezhskiy agreement."
Sounds like the author realizes that the death of Soviet Communism was a top down affair. The question remains: why would the Communists sign their own death warrant? I have my own ideas, but I'm curious to find out where you (and sources such as your post above) come down on the subject.