1991 Soviet Coup Attempt

The 1991 Soviet coup attempt, also known as the August Coup, was a pivotal event in the history of the Soviet Union. It was an attempt by hardliners within the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) to seize control from Mikhail Gorbachev, the General Secretary of the party, and President of the Soviet Union. This coup took place from August 19 to August 21, 1991, and aimed to halt Gorbachev's reform policies, such as perestroika and glasnost, which were seen by the conspirators as eroding the power of the CPSU and threatening the Soviet state.

Background

By 1991, the Soviet Union was experiencing significant internal turmoil. Economic difficulties, nationalistic movements within various Soviet republics, and the loss of control over Eastern European satellite states had weakened the central Soviet government. Gorbachev's policies intended to modernize and democratize the Soviet system but also encouraged demands for greater independence and autonomy among the republics.

The turning point came when a new Union Treaty was scheduled to be signed on August 20, 1991. This treaty aimed to transform the Soviet Union into a looser federation of independent states, which many hardliners feared would lead to the disintegration of the Union.

The Coup

On August 19, 1991, a group of senior Soviet officials, including Vice President Gennady Yanayev, Defense Minister Dmitry Yazov, and KGB Chairman Vladimir Kryuchkov, declared a state of emergency and announced that Gorbachev was unable to perform his duties due to illness. They formed a "State Committee on the State of Emergency" (GKChP) to take control of the government.

President Boris Yeltsin, the leader of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR), opposed the coup. In a dramatic moment, Yeltsin stood atop a tank outside the Russian White House in Moscow, rallying the public and the military to resist the coup. His actions, along with widespread protests across the country, significantly undermined the coup's chances of success.

Aftermath

The coup collapsed within three days due to lack of effective leadership and widespread resistance among both civilians and the military. Gorbachev was restored to power, but the event had irreversible effects on the Soviet Union's political landscape. It accelerated the collapse of the CPSU and led to the independence declarations of various republics.

In December 1991, the Belavezha Accords were signed, formally dissolving the Soviet Union and establishing the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), effectively ending the existence of the Soviet Union.

Key Figures

Mikhail Gorbachev - The last General Secretary of the CPSU and President of the Soviet Union. His policies of reform inadvertently led to the coup attempt.
Boris Yeltsin - The President of the RSFSR who publicly opposed the coup, emerging as a national hero and a leading figure in post-Soviet Russia.
Gennady Yanayev - Soviet Vice President who briefly declared himself acting President during the coup.
Dmitry Yazov - Defense Minister who was involved in the coup, later arrested for his role.
Vladimir Kryuchkov - Chairman of the KGB and a key conspirator in the coup.

Legacy

The August Coup is often regarded as the final act in the dissolution of the Soviet Union. It demonstrated the fragility of the Soviet state and the growing power of reformist and nationalist movements within the country. It paved the way for radical political, economic, and social transformations in the former Soviet territory.