Collapse of the USSR

At the end of 1991, the Soviet Union, one of the two largest powers in the world, ceased to exist. What led to the collapse of the USSR? How these events took place, not so distant, but had a huge impact on the further course of human history.

Reasons for the collapse of the USSR

Of course, such a large power could not collapse just like that. There were many reasons for the collapse of the USSR. The main one was the strong dissatisfaction of the overwhelming majority of the population with the existing regime. This dissatisfaction was of a socio-economic nature. Socially, people wanted freedom: Gorbachev’s perestroika, which initially raised expectations of change, did not live up to the people’s hopes. New slogans and ideas, new leaders, more courageous and radical (at least in words), found a much greater response in people's hearts than the actions of the existing government. In economic terms, monstrous fatigue has accumulated from constant shortages, queues, from the knowledge that there, in the distant capitalist West, people live much better. At that time, few people followed oil prices, the collapse of which was one of the reasons for the catastrophe in the economy. It seemed like change the system and everything would be fine. In addition, the Soviet Union was a multinational state, and at the time of crisis, national sentiments (as well as interethnic contradictions) manifested themselves especially clearly. But another important reason collapse of the USSR became the lust for power of the new leaders. The collapse of the country and the formation of several new ones allowed them to satisfy their ambitions, and therefore they took advantage of popular discontent and tore the Soviet Union into pieces. The public mind is quite easy to manipulate when people are angry. The people themselves went to the streets to rally and the new power-hungry, of course, could not help but take advantage of this. However, entering the realm of conjecture, one can assume that other countries actively tried to take advantage of the reasons that led to the collapse of the USSR. Unlike modern “orange-pink” revolutions, the collapse Soviet Union was not determined by their political “technologies”, but tried to snatch all sorts of advantages for themselves, different ways supporting certain individuals from among the “new leaders”.

Fall of communist regimes

Mikhail Sergeevich Gorbachev, who started perestroika, introduced such concepts as “glasnost” and “democracy” into use. In addition, he made a sharp rapprochement with our former enemies: Western countries. The foreign policy of the USSR changed radically: “new thinking” required qualitative changes. A number of friendly meetings were held with the President of the United States of America, Ronald Reagan. In an effort to gain a reputation as a democratic leader, Mikhail Gorbachev behaved differently on the world stage than his predecessors. Sensing weakness, “our new friends” sharply became more active in the Warsaw Pact countries and began to use tactics of displacing undesirable regimes from within, which they then repeatedly used, and which later became known as “color revolutions.” The pro-Western opposition received great support, but most importantly, the people were actively instilled with the idea that the current leaders were guilty of all sins and that the “movement towards democracy” would bring people freedom and prosperity. Such propaganda ultimately led not only to the fall of communist regimes in Eastern Europe, but also to the collapse of the USSR: without realizing it, Gorbachev was cutting off the branch on which he was sitting. Poland was the first to rebel, then Hungary, followed by Czechoslovakia and Bulgaria. The transition from communism in these countries took place peacefully, but in Romania Ceausescu decided to suppress the uprising by force. But times have changed: the troops went over to the side of the protesters, and the communist leader was shot. Among these events, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the unification of the two Germanys stand out. The division of the former fascist power was one of the results of the Great Patriotic War and to unite them, simply the will of the people was not enough; the consent of the Soviet Union was a necessary condition. Subsequently, after the collapse of the USSR, Mikhail Gorbachev, who agreed to the reunification of Germany, claimed that in exchange he received a promise from Western countries about the non-entry of the countries of the former Warsaw Pact into NATO, but this was not legally formalized in any way. Therefore, our “friends” rejected the fact of such an agreement. This is just one example of the numerous mistakes of Soviet diplomacy during the collapse of the USSR. The fall of communist regimes in 1989 became a prototype of what would begin to happen in the Soviet Union itself less than a year later.

Parade of sovereignties

Sensing the weakness of the regime, local leaders, indulging liberal and nationalist sentiments among the people (perhaps even encouraging them), began to take more and more power into their own hands and declare the sovereignty of their territories. While this has not yet led to the collapse of the Soviet Union, it has increasingly undermined it, just as pests gradually turn a tree into dust from the inside until it collapses. The population's trust and respect for the central government fell, following declarations of sovereignty, the priority of local laws over federal ones was announced, and tax revenues to the union budget were reduced, since local leaders kept them for themselves. All this was a strong blow to the economy of the USSR, which was planned, not market, and largely depended on the clear interaction of territories in the field of transport, industry, etc. And now in many areas the situation was increasingly reminiscent of the fable of the swan, the crayfish and the pike, which increasingly weakened the country’s already weak economy. This inevitably affected the people, who blamed everything on the communists and who increasingly wanted a transition to capitalism. The parade of sovereignties began with the Nakhichevan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, then Lithuania and Georgia followed suit. In 1990 and 1991, all union republics declared their sovereignty, including the RSFSR and part autonomous republics. For leaders, the word “sovereignty” was synonymous with the word “power”, for ordinary people- the word “freedom”. The overthrow of the communist regime and collapse of the USSR were approaching...

Referendum on preserving the USSR

An attempt was made to preserve the Soviet Union. In order to rely on broad sections of the population, the authorities offered the people to give the old state a renewed look. They seduced people with promises that the Soviet Union in a “new package” would be better than the old one and held a referendum on preserving the USSR in an updated form, which took place in March 1991. Three quarters (76%) of the population were in favor of maintaining the state, which was supposed to stop collapse of the USSR, preparation of the draft of a new Union Treaty began, the post of President of the USSR was introduced, which, naturally, became Mikhail Gorbachev. But when this opinion of the people was seriously taken into account in big games? Although the Union did not collapse, and the referendum was an all-Union one, some local “kings” (namely Georgian, Armenian, Moldavian and three Baltic) sabotaged the vote in their republics. And in the RSFSR, on June 12, 1991, elections for the President of Russia took place, which were won by Boris Yeltsin, one of Gorbachev’s opponents.

The August 1991 coup and the State Emergency Committee

However, Soviet party functionaries were not going to sit idly by and watch the collapse of the USSR, and, consequently, the deprivation of their power. Taking advantage of the absence of Gorbachev, who was on vacation in Faros, Crimea (by the way, whether he knew or not, The President of the USSR himself participated or did not participate in the putsch, there are different opinions), they staged a coup d'état with the declared goal of preserving the unity of the Soviet Union. Subsequently, it received the name of the August putsch. The conspirators created the State Committee for a State of Emergency, and put Gennady Yanaev at the head of the USSR. In the memory of Soviet people, the August putsch was remembered primarily for the round-the-clock showing of “Swan Lake” on TV, as well as for the unprecedented popular unity in overthrowing the “new government.” The putschists had no chance. Their success was associated with a return to earlier times, so the protest sentiments were too strong. The resistance was led by Boris Yeltsin. This was his finest hour. In three days, the State Emergency Committee was overthrown, and the legitimate President of the country was released. The country rejoiced. But Yeltsin was not the kind of person to pull chestnuts out of the fire for Gorbachev. Gradually he took more and more powers. And other leaders saw a clear weakening of central power. By the end of the year, all republics (except Russian Federation) declared their independence and secession from the Soviet Union. The collapse of the USSR was inevitable.

Bialowieza Accords

In December of the same year, a meeting was held between Yeltsin, Kravchuk and Shushkevich (at that time - the Presidents of Russia, Ukraine and the Chairman of the Supreme Council of Belarus), at which the liquidation of the Soviet Union was announced and a decision was made to create the Union of Independent States (CIS). It was a strong blow. Gorbachev was indignant, but there was nothing he could do. On December 21, in the capital of Kazakhstan, Almaty, all other union republics, except the Baltic and Georgia, joined the CIS.

Date of collapse of the USSR

On December 25, 1991, the out-of-work Gorbachev announced his resignation as president “for reasons of principle” (what else could he do?) and handed over control of the “nuclear suitcase” to Yeltsin. The next day, December 26, the upper house of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR adopted declaration No. 142-N, which stated the termination of the existence of the state of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. In addition, a number of administrative institutions of the former Soviet Union were liquidated. This day is legally considered the date of the collapse of the USSR.

Thus occurred the liquidation of one of the largest and most powerful powers in history, due both to the “help of Western friends” and to the internal incapacity of the existing Soviet system.

carried out in secret from the Soviet president, the leaders of the three Slavic republics B.N. Yeltsin(Russia), L.M. Kravchuk(Ukraine), S.S. Shushkevich(Belarus) announced termination validity of the Union Treaty of 1922 and the creation CIS— Commonwealth of Independent States. IN separate The interstate agreement stated: “We, the leaders of the Republic of Belarus, the RSFSR, Ukraine, noting that negotiations on the preparation of a new Union Treaty have reached a dead end, the objective process of the republics leaving the USSR and the formation of independent states has become real fact...declare education Commonwealth of Independent States, about which the parties signed an agreement on December 8, 1991.” The statement by the three leaders said that “the Commonwealth of Independent States within the republic Belarus, RSFSR, Ukraine is open for accession by all member states of the USSR, as well as for other states that share the goals and principles of this Agreement.”

On December 21, at a meeting in Almaty, to which the Soviet president was not invited, eleven former Soviet republics, now independent states, announced the creation of a Commonwealth primarily with coordinating functions and without any legislative, executive or judicial powers.

Evaluating these events subsequently, ex-president The USSR said that it believed that on the question of the fate of the USSR, some were in favor of preserving the union state, taking into account its deep reform, transformation into a Union of Sovereign States, while others were against it. In Belovezhskaya Pushcha, behind the backs of the President of the USSR and the Parliament of the country, all opinions were crossed out, and the USSR was destroyed.

From the point of view of economic and political expediency, it is difficult to understand why the former Soviet republics needed to “burn to the ground” all state and economic ties, but we should not forget that in addition to the clearly manifested processes of national self-determination in the Soviet republics there was a fact power struggle. And this fact played an important role in B.N.’s decision. Yeltsin, L.M. Kravchuk and S.S. Shushkevich, adopted in Belovezhskaya Pushcha on the termination of the Union Treaty of 1922. The collapse of the USSR drew a line under the Soviet period of modern national history.

The collapse of the Soviet Union led to the most dramatic geopolitical situation since World War II. In fact it was real geopolitical catastrophe, the consequences of which still affect the economy, politics and social sphere of all former republics of the Soviet Union.

State Emergency Committee

The USSR reached a deep crisis in all spheres of life. In order to preserve the Union and bring it out of this situation, the State Committee on the State of Emergency was formed. This body existed from August 18 to August 21, 1991. The State Emergency Committee included government officials and government officials who opposed the Perestroika reforms carried out by the current president of the Union. Committee members opposed the transformation of the country into a new confederation. The forces, whose leader was Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin, refused to obey the formed body, calling their activities unconstitutional. The task of the State Emergency Committee was to remove Gorbachev from the presidency, preserve the integrity of the USSR, and prevent the sovereignty of the republics. The events that took place during these days are called the “August putsch.” As a result, the activities of the State Emergency Committee were suppressed and its members were arrested.

Conclusion

During the collapse of the USSR, the problems of Soviet society were first denied and then sharply recognized. Alcoholism, drug addiction, and prostitution have spread to a catastrophic scale. Society has become sharply criminalized, and the shadow economy has grown sharply. This period was also marked by a number of man-made disasters (Chernobyl accident, and others). There were also problems in the foreign policy arena. Refusal to participate in internal affairs other states led to the massive collapse of pro-Soviet communist systems in Eastern Europe in 1989. Thus, in Poland Lech Walesa takes power ( former manager trade union "Solidarity"), in Czechoslovakia - Vaclav Havel (former dissident). In Romania, the removal of communists was carried out using force. According to the verdict of the tribunal, President Ceausescu and his wife were shot. As a result, there was a collapse of the Soviet system that emerged after World War II.

In March 1990, at an all-Union referendum, the majority of citizens spoke in favor of preserving the USSR and the need to reform it. By the summer of 1991, a new Union Treaty was prepared, which gave a chance to renew the federal state. But it was not possible to maintain unity.

Currently, there is no single point of view among historians on what was the main cause of the collapse of the USSR, and also on whether it was possible to prevent or at least stop the process of collapse of the USSR. Among possible reasons are called the following:

· The USSR was created in 1922. as a federal state. However, over time, it increasingly turned into a state controlled from the center and leveling out the differences between the republics and subjects of federal relations. The problems of inter-republican and interethnic relations have been ignored for many years. During the years of perestroika, when interethnic conflicts became explosive and extremely dangerous, decision-making was postponed until 1990-1991. The accumulation of contradictions made disintegration inevitable;

· The USSR was created on the basis of recognition of the right of nations to self-determination, The federation was built not on a territorial, but on a national-territorial principle. In the Constitutions of 1924, 1936 and 1977. contained norms on the sovereignty of the republics that were part of the USSR. In the context of a growing crisis, these norms became a catalyst for centrifugal processes;

· the unified national economic complex that developed in the USSR ensured the economic integration of the republics. However As economic difficulties grew, economic ties began to break down, the republics showed tendencies towards self-isolation, and the center was not ready for such a development of events;

· Soviet politic system was based on strict centralization of power, the real bearer of which was not so much the state as Communist Party. The crisis of the CPSU, its loss of its leadership role, its collapse inevitably led to the collapse of the country;

· the unity and integrity of the Union was largely ensured by its ideological unity. The crisis of the communist value system created a spiritual vacuum that was filled with nationalist ideas;

· political, economic, ideological crisis, which outlasted the USSR in last years of its existence , led to the weakening of the center and the strengthening of the republics, their political elites . For economic, political, and personal reasons, the national elites were interested not so much in preserving the USSR as in its collapse. The “Parade of Sovereignties” of 1990 clearly showed the mood and intentions of the national party-state elites.

Consequences:

· the collapse of the USSR led to the emergence of independent sovereign states;

· the geopolitical situation in Europe and throughout the world has radically changed;

· the breakdown of economic ties has become one of the main reasons for the deep economic crisis in Russia and other countries - successors of the USSR;

· serious problems have arisen related to the fate of Russians who remained outside Russia, and national minorities in general (the problem of refugees and migrants).

1. Political liberalization has led to an increase in the numberinformal groups, since 1988 included in political activity. The prototypes of future political parties were unions, associations and popular fronts of different directions (nationalist, patriotic, liberal, democratic, etc.). In the spring of 1988, the Democratic Bloc was formed, which included Eurocommunists, Social Democrats, and liberal groups.

An opposition Interregional Deputy Group was formed in the Supreme Council. In January 1990, an opposition democratic platform emerged within the CPSU, whose members began to leave the party.

Began to form political parties . The CPSU monopoly on power was lost, and from mid-1990 a rapid transition to a multi-party system began.

2. The collapse of the socialist camp (“Velvet Revolution” in Czechoslovakia (1989), events in Romania (1989), the unification of Germany and the disappearance of the GDR (1990), reforms in Hungary, Poland and Bulgaria.)

3. The growth of the nationalist movement. Its reasons were the deterioration of the economic situation in national regions, the conflict of local authorities with the “center”). Clashes began on ethnic grounds; since 1987, national movements have acquired an organized character (the Crimean Tatar movement, the movement for the reunification of Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia, the movement for the independence of the Baltic states, etc.)

In the same time a new project was developedUnion Treaty, significantly expanding the rights of republics.

The idea of ​​a union treaty was put forward by the popular fronts of the Baltic republics back in 1988. The center adopted the idea of ​​a treaty later, when centrifugal tendencies were gaining strength and there was a “parade of sovereignties.” The question of Russian sovereignty was raised in June 1990 at the First Congress of People's Deputies of the Russian Federation. Was Declaration on State Sovereignty of the Russian Federation was adopted. This meant that the Soviet Union as a state entity was losing its main support.

The Declaration formally delimited the powers of the center and the republic, which did not contradict the Constitution. In practice, it established dual power in the country.

The example of Russia strengthened separatist tendencies in the union republics.

However, the indecisive and inconsistent actions of the country's central leadership did not lead to success. In April 1991, the Union Center and nine republics (with the exception of the Baltic, Georgia, Armenia and Moldova) signed documents declaring the provisions of the new union treaty. However, the situation was complicated by the ongoing struggle between the parliaments of the USSR and Russia, which turned into war of laws.

At the beginning of April 1990, the Law was adopted On strengthening responsibility for attacks on the national equality of citizens and violent violation of the unity of the territory of the USSR, which established criminal liability for public calls for the violent overthrow or change of the Soviet social and state system.

But almost simultaneously it was adopted Law Oprocedure for resolving issues related Withthe exit of the union republic from the USSR, regulating order and proceduresecession from the USSR throughreferendum. A legal way to leave the Union was opened.

The Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR in December 1990 voted to preserve the USSR.

However, the collapse of the USSR was already in full swing. In October 1990, at the congress of the Ukrainian Popular Front, the struggle for the independence of Ukraine was proclaimed; The Georgian parliament, in which nationalists received a majority, adopted a program for the transition to a sovereign Georgia. Political tension remained in the Baltic states.

In November 1990, the republics were offered a new version of the union treaty, which, instead of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, mentionedUnion of Soviet Sovereign Republics.

But at the same time, bilateral agreements were signed between Russia and Ukraine, mutually recognizing each other’s sovereignty regardless of the Center, between Russia and Kazakhstan. A parallel model of the union of republics was created.

4. In January 1991, it was held currency reform, aimed at combating the shadow economy, but causing additional tension in society. The population expressed dissatisfaction deficit food and necessary goods.

B.N. Yeltsin demanded the resignation of the President of the USSR and the dissolution of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

Was scheduled for March referendum on the issue of preserving the USSR(opponents of the Union questioned its legitimacy, calling for the transfer of power to the Federation Council, consisting of the top officials of the republics). The majority of voters were in favor of preserving the USSR.

5. At the beginning of March, miners of Donbass, Kuzbass and Vorkuta began a strike, demanding the resignation of the President of the USSR, the dissolution of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, a multi-party system, and the nationalization of the property of the CPSU. The official authorities could not stop the process that had begun.

The referendum on March 17, 1991 confirmed the political split in society; in addition, a sharp increase in prices increased social tension and swelled the ranks of strikers.

In June 1991, elections for the President of the RSFSR were held. B.N. was elected Yeltsin.

Discussion of drafts of the new Union Treaty continued: some participants at the meeting in Novo-Ogarevo insisted on confederal principles, others on federal ones. It was supposed to sign the agreement in July - August 1991.

During the negotiations, the republics managed to defend many of their demands: the Russian language ceased to be the state language, the heads of the republican governments participated in the work of the Union Cabinet of Ministers with the right to a decisive vote, enterprises of the military-industrial complex were transferred to the joint jurisdiction of the Union and the republics.

Many questions about both the international and intra-Union status of the republics remained unresolved. Questions about Union taxes and disposal remained unclear natural resources, as well as the status of the six republics that did not sign the agreement. At the same time, the Central Asian republics concluded bilateral agreements with each other, and Ukraine refrained from signing an agreement until the adoption of its Constitution.

In July 1991, the President of Russia signed Decree on departition, prohibited the activities of party organizations in enterprises and institutions.

6. Created on August 19, 1991 State Committee for the State of Emergency in the USSR (GKChP) , declaring his intention to restore order in the country and prevent the collapse of the USSR. A state of emergency was established and censorship was introduced. Armored vehicles appeared on the streets of the capital.

Exactly 20 years ago, on December 25, 1991, Mikhail Gorbachev laid down his powers of the President of the USSR, and The Soviet Union ceased to exist.

Currently, there is no consensus among historians on what was the main reason for the collapse of the USSR, and also on whether it was possible to prevent this process.

We remember the events of 20 years ago.

Demonstration in the center of Vilnius for the independence of the Republic of Lithuania on January 10, 1990. In general, the Baltic republics were at the forefront of the struggle for independence, and Lithuania was the first of the Soviet republics to proclaim it on March 11, 1990. The USSR Constitution was terminated on the territory of the republic and the Lithuanian Constitution of 1938 was restored. (Photo by Vitaly Armand | AFP | Getty Images):

The independence of Lithuania was not recognized then either by the government of the USSR or by other countries. In response to the declaration of independence, the Soviet government undertook an “economic blockade” of Lithuania, and from January 1991 military force- capture of television nodes and other important buildings in Lithuanian cities.

In the Foto: USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev at a meeting with residents of Vilnius, Lithuania, January 11, 1990. (Photo by Victor Yurchenk | AP):

Weapons confiscated from local police in Kaunas, Lithuania, March 26, 1990. USSR President Gorbachev ordered Lithuania to hand over firearms to the Soviet authorities. (Photo by Vadimir Vyatkin | Novisti AP):

One after another, the Soviet republics declare their independence. In the Foto: crowd blocks the way to Soviet tanks on the approach to the city of Kirovabad (Ganja) - the second largest city in Azerbaijan, January 22, 1990. (AP Photo):

The collapse (collapse) of the USSR occurred against the background of a general economic, political and demographic crisis. In the period 1989-1991. comes to the surface the main problem Soviet economy - a chronic commodity shortage. Almost all basic goods, except bread, disappear from free sale. In almost all regions of the country, rationed sales of goods using coupons are being introduced. (Photo by Dusan Vranic | AP):

Rally of Soviet mothers near Red Square in Moscow, December 24, 1990. About 6,000 people died in 1990 while serving in the Soviet armed forces. (Photo by Martin Cleaver | AP):

Manezhnaya Square in Moscow was repeatedly the site of mass rallies, including unauthorized ones, during perestroika. In the Foto: another rally, at which more than 100 thousand participants demand the resignation of USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev, and also oppose the use of military force by the Soviet army against Lithuania, January 20, 1991. (Photo by Vitaly Armand | AFP | Getty Images):

Anti-Soviet leaflets on a wall erected in front of the Lithuanian parliament as a defense against an assault by Soviet troops, January 17, 1991. (Photo by Liu Heung Shing | AP):

On January 13, 1991, Soviet troops stormed the television tower in Vilnius. The local population offered active resistance, as a result, 13 people died and dozens were injured. (Photo by Stringer | AFP | Getty Images):

And again Manege Square in Moscow. March 10, 1991 was held here largest anti-government rally throughout the history of Soviet power: hundreds of thousands of people demanded Gorbachev’s resignation. (Photo by Dominique Mollard | AP):

A few days before the August coup. Mikhail Gorbachev at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, 1991

August putsch August 19, 1991 was an attempt to remove Gorbachev from the post of President of the USSR, undertaken State Committee on a state of emergency (GKChP) - a group of figures from the leadership of the CPSU Central Committee, the USSR government, the army and the KGB. It led to radical changes in the political situation in the country and an irreversible acceleration of the collapse of the USSR.

The actions of the Emergency Committee were accompanied by the declaration of a state of emergency, the deployment of troops into the center of Moscow, and the introduction of strict censorship in the media. The leadership of the RSFSR (Boris Yeltsin) and the leadership of the USSR (President Mikhail Gorbachev) qualified the actions of the State Emergency Committee as a coup. Tanks near the Kremlin, August 19, 1991. (Photo by Dima Tanin | AFP | Getty Images):

Leaders of the August Coup, members of the State Emergency Committee from left to right: Minister of Internal Affairs Boris Pugo, Vice President of the USSR Gennady Yanaev and Deputy Chairman of the Defense Council under the President of the USSR Oleg Baklanov. Press conference on August 19, 1991 in Moscow. Members of the State Emergency Committee chose the moment when Gorbachev was away - on vacation in Crimea, and announced his temporary removal from power, allegedly for health reasons. (Photo by Vitaly Armand | AFP | Getty Images):

In total, about 4 thousand military personnel, 362 tanks, 427 armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles were brought into Moscow. In the Foto: the crowd is blocking the movement of the column, August 19, 1991. (Photo by Boris Yurchenko | AP):

Russian President Boris Yeltsin comes to the “White House” (Supreme Council of the RSFSR) and organizes a center of resistance to the actions of the State Emergency Committee. Resistance takes the form of rallies that gather in Moscow to defend the White House and create barricades around him, August 19, 1991. (Photo by Anatoly Sapronyenkov | AFP | Getty Images):

However, members of the State Emergency Committee did not have complete control over their forces, and on the very first day, parts of the Taman division went over to the side of the defenders of the White House. From the tank of this division he said his famous message to assembled supporters Yeltsin, August 19, 1991. (Photo by Diane-Lu Hovasse | AFP | Getty Images):

President of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev delivers a video message August 19, 1991. He calls what is happening a coup d'état. At this moment, Gorbachev is blocked by troops at his dacha in Crimea. (Photo by NBC TV | AFP | Getty Images):

As a result of a clash with the military three people died- White House defender. (Photo by Dima Tanin | AFP | Getty Images):

(Photo by Andre Durand | AFP | Getty Images):

Boris Yeltsin speaks to supporters from the White House balcony, August 19, 1991. (Photo by Dima Tanin | AFP | Getty Images):

On August 20, 1991, more than 25,000 people gathered in front of the White House to support Boris Yeltsin. (Photo by Vitaly Armand | AFP | Getty Images):

Barricades at the White House, August 21, 1991. (Alexander Nemenov | AFP | Getty Images):

On the evening of August 21, Mikhail Gorbachev contacted Moscow and canceled all orders of the State Emergency Committee. (AFP Photo | EPA | Alain-Pierre Hovasse):

August 22 all members of the State Emergency Committee were arrested. The army began to leave Moscow. (Photo by Willy Slingerland | AFP | Getty Images):

The streets greet the news of the failure coup d'etat, August 22, 1991. (AP Photo):

President of the RSFSR Boris Yeltsin announced that a decision had been made to make a white-azure-red banner new state flag of Russia. (AFP Photo | EPA | Alain-Pierre Hovasse):

Announced in Moscow mourning for the dead, August 22, 1991. (Photo by Alexander Nemenov | AFP | Getty Images):

Dismantling the monument to Felix Dzerzhinsky at Lubyanka, August 22, 1991. It was a spontaneous outburst of revolutionary energy. (Photo by Anatoly Sapronenkov | AFP | Getty Ima):

Dismantling barricades near the White House, August 25, 1991. (Photo by Alain-Pierre Hovasse | AFP | Getty Images):

The August putsch led to irreversible acceleration of the collapse of the USSR. On October 18, the Constitutional Act “On State Independence of the Azerbaijan Republic” was adopted. (Photo by Anatoly Sapronenkov | AFP | Getty Images):

A month after the August events, on September 28, 1991, a grand rock festival "Monsters of Rock". The grandees and legends of world rock music “AC/DC” and “Metallica” took part in it. Neither before nor after, nothing else of this magnitude happened in the vastness of the Soviet Union. According to various estimates, the number of spectators ranged from 600 to 800 thousand people (the figure is also called 1,000,000 people). (Photo by Stephan Bentura | AFP | Getty Images):

Dismantled monument to Lenin from the center of Vilnius, Lithuania, September 1, 1991. (Photo by Gerard Fouet | AFP | Getty Images):

The joy of the local population about output Soviet troops from Chechnya, Grozny, September 1, 1991. (AP Photo):

After the failure of the August putsch, August 24, 1991 The Verkhovna Rada Ukrainian SSR accepted Act of Declaration of Independence of Ukraine. It was confirmed by the results of the referendum on December 1, 1991, in which 90.32% of the population who came to the polling stations voted for independence. (Photo by Boris Yurchenko | AP):

By December 1991, 16 Soviet republics declared their independence. On December 12, 1991, the withdrawal of the Russian Republic from the USSR, which actually ceased to exist, was proclaimed. Mikhail Gorbachev was still the president of a non-existent state.

December 25, 1991 Mikhail Gorbachev announces the termination of his activities as President of the USSR “for reasons of principle,” signed a decree resigning from the powers of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Soviet Armed Forces and transferred control of the strategic nuclear weapons Russian President Boris Yeltsin.

Soviet flag flutters over the Kremlin last days. IN New Year 1991-1992 a new Russian flag was already flying over the Kremlin. (Photo by Gene Berman | AP):