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The revolutions in 1989 have had major repercussions on the advocates of democracy in Russia, who are convinced of the need to accelerate reforms so as to catch up with eastern Europe. These democrats are, however, far from agreeing on the political lessons to be drawn from these revolutions. Should pressure be brought to bear bottom-up? Should reformers in power be supported when faced with social destabilization? As shown by the reception given to these revolutions, the events of 1989 have acted like a catalyst revealing the dilemmas inherent in the political conceptions of democrats in Russia. It makes them take a stand on the “question of power”: who should be the leader undertaking reforms with whom and how? This question was long deemed to be subordinate to the requisites of modernization or moralization.