During the year 2002, the Russian government came under intense criticism for its failure to revive the country's crumbling economy. When protests rang out and the government began to collapse, a party of Ultra-nationalists, then being led by activist Dmitri Arbatov, challenged the government for control of the Presidency of Russia, and through careful manipulation were eventually able to overthrow the aforementioned President, Vladimir Putin. Arbatov then installed himself as the country's next President, and proceeded to return Russia to its former glory.