In the elections of the Congress of People's Deputies of the RSFSR in February 1990, most of the opposition organizations united in the bloc (later - the movement) "Democratic Russia". He received about a third of the votes, and with the support of independent deputies, Yeltsin was elected chairman of the Russian parliament on May 29, 1990. Under pressure from "Democratic Russia", the congress on June 12, 1990 decided on the sovereignty of Russia, that is, on the supremacy of its laws over the laws of the USSR. Thus, two centers of power were formed in the USSR. In many Soviets, including those in Moscow and Leningrad, "democrats" won the majority of seats. During the XXVIII Congress of the CPSU, which was held on July 2-13, 1990, the chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR B. N. Yeltsin, the chairmen of the Soviets of Moscow G. Kh. Popov and Leningrad A. A. Sobchak left the CPSU. The monopoly of the CPSU on power was over.

The fall in the authority of the CPSU and the growth of opposition sentiments led to the formation of numerous parties. Some of them were former informal groups or their associations. As a rule, the founders of the parties took an example from the organizations of the beginning of the 20th century or modern Western European parties. Some members of the social movement did not support the creation of new parties, believing that the power of party bureaucracies does not help solve the problems of society. Thus, participants in the environmental movement united in the Social-Ecological Union, and left-wing socialists - radical opponents of bureaucracy - in the Anarcho-Syndicalist Confederation, which advocated the transfer of all power to production and local self-government.

Sometimes the parties changed their orientation dramatically due to the change of leaders. Thus, the liberal-democratic party was headed by V. V. Zhirinovsky, who began to defend not liberal, but authoritarian views. Most of the parties adhered to a democratic position, and this allowed them to act together against the CPSU. The development of a multi-party system made Article 6 of the USSR Constitution an anachronism, and on March 13, 1990 it was canceled.

By the middle of 1990, the public field was dominated by the values ​​of pluralism and ideological tolerance, civil liberties and self-government, the right of a person to participate in decision-making, on which his life depends. In Russia, a legal civil society, united by many mutual contacts, emerged, consisting of economic, public, trade union and information organizations. The sprouts of an independent press were formed, the system of government became more democratic. For a while, the power of the Soviets in the localities was restored.

At the same time, economic restructuring caused painful economic consequences (above all, an increase in the shortage of products). Among the dissatisfied, the myth of the salvation of the coming "radical economic reform" was strengthened, which was increasingly associated with the idea of ​​Westernization - the forced introduction of Western political and economic structures. Despite the external radicalism of this idea, it suited the dynamic part of the nomenklatura quite well, which realized the possibility of using Westernizing and anti-communist slogans in order to redistribute property and restore their control over society on a new basis. In 1990-1991, this part of the ruling stratum defiantly went over to the opposition to the CPSU.

In 1990-1991, the leaders of the communist parties in most of the union republics decided that it was more profitable for them to be independent from the union center and the leadership of the CPSU, headed by Gorbachev. Therefore, even where national movements did not have the support of the majority of the population (as in Ukraine and Belarus), the republics began to pursue a policy of "sovereignty" within the USSR, establishing regional control over the economy and resources. This led to the fact that economic ties in the USSR began to disintegrate. This process also captured some regions of the RSFSR, especially after B. N. Yeltsin told the leaders of the autonomous republics: "Take as much sovereignty as you can."

The struggle for "sovereignty", which was supported and led by the national groupings of the nomenklatura, and the failure economic reforms led to a sharp weakening of the USSR and the collapse of the socialist camp in 1989-1991 On February 14, 1989, the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan was completed. June 28 - July 1, 1991, the CMEA and the Department of Internal Affairs were dissolved.

The collapse of economic ties, political and legal uncertainty and the transfer of enterprise funds to commercial structures have led to an aggravation economic crisis. The attempts of the allied and Russian centers to agree on a joint program of reforms failed; in February-April 1991, a confrontation between them destabilized the situation.

On April 29, 1991, an agreement was concluded between the center and 9 republics of the USSR on the delimitation of powers. The post of president was introduced in Russia. The Communists, split by that time into several currents, fielded several candidates in the presidential elections in Russia. Part of the nationalist-minded voters supported V. Zhirinovsky.

Yeltsin, on the contrary, united around himself not only the electorate of "democrats", but also a part of the communists who sympathized with democracy, who followed the deputy A.V. Rutsky. Rutskoi became a candidate for the post of vice president in tandem with Yeltsin. On June 12, 1991, Yeltsin and Rutskoi won the presidential elections.

After lengthy negotiations with the presidents and other leaders of the Union republics, Gorbachev managed to agree on a draft of a new Union Treaty with them. He significantly reduced the rights of the union center, but kept the USSR. On March 17, 1991, the majority of the country's inhabitants voted for the preservation of the USSR in a referendum.

On August 19, 1991, several heads of allied departments, headed by the Vice-President of the USSR G.I. Yanaev, announced that Gorbachev was temporarily unable to perform his duties due to health reasons and power was transferred to the State Committee for the State of Emergency (GKChP). Troops were sent to Moscow. However, the members of the GKChP only tried to put pressure on the "democrats" and were not ready to launch widespread repressions against them. The leaders of Russia, led by Yeltsin, and the leaders of the main opposition organizations were not arrested. They accused the members of the State Emergency Committee of organizing a coup d'état. Hundreds of thousands of Muscovites came to the center of the capital and began to impede the movement of military units. The building of the Russian parliament and government (the so-called "White House") was surrounded by barricades. Under these conditions, on August 21, the GKChP capitulated, and real power passed to the leaders of the union republics. The Baltic Republics, taking advantage of the situation, withdrew from the Union. This act was recognized by the USSR.

Despite the fact that negotiations on a new Union Treaty continued, the leaders of the republics were increasingly inclined to think that they needed full power, without any union center. The national groupings of the nomenklatura entered into an alliance with the national movements. The nationalist intelligentsia gained control of the media, which led to massive pressure to secede from the USSR. On December 1, 1991, in a referendum, 90% of the inhabitants of Ukraine voted for secession from the USSR. The Russian leadership strongly supported the Ukrainian leaders. It was his position that ensured the independence of the republics that were part of the USSR.

On December 8, 1991, in order to consolidate their success in the struggle for power, Russian President B.N. Yeltsin, Ukrainian President L.M. Kravchuk and Chairman of the Supreme Council of Belarus S.S. Shushkevich signed an agreement on the dissolution of the USSR in Belovezhskaya Pushcha (Belarus). and the creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Soon most of the republics of the USSR joined this agreement. The parliaments of the union republics ratified the agreement on the creation of the CIS. The Communist deputies also voted for this agreement. On December 25, 1991, Gorbachev handed over power to Yeltsin. The USSR ceased to exist as a subject of international law.

In 1990, events in the USSR began to rapidly get out of the control of the country's leadership. Already in February two million (!) demonstrations under the slogan "Down with the CPSU!" took place in Moscow. In the same month, Art. 6 on the "leading and guiding role" of the Communist Party. However, no concessions could calm down the raging waves of protest in the peddling country. The people and adventurers of all stripes sensed the weakness and indecisiveness of the receding authorities. From now on, almost everything is possible.

The fall of the Great Empire was near and inevitable.

Tent camp near the walls of the Kremlin:

The campground on Vasilyevsky Spusk stood for half a year in 1990:

Almost all the union republics were seized by the frenzy of nationalist movements demanding independence. In the Baltic states, the nationalists already dominated the republican authorities.

Demonstration for the independence of Lithuania on January 10, 1990:

Gorbachev went to the Lithuanian capital and tried in vain to persuade the local public to stay in the Union on the most favorable terms.

Gorbachev has a lively conversation with the people of Vilnius on January 11, 1990:

On March 2, 1990, the Lithuanian Supreme Soviet announced the republic's secession from the USSR.
The federal government did not recognize this act and a sluggish political confrontation began, at times turning into bloody skirmishes between Soviet security forces and local activists.

Two Soviet paratroopers inspect weapons confiscated from a local police organization in Kaunas, March 26, 1990:

Soldiers of the Soviet Army on the streets of Riga after a demonstration on May 4 to commemorate the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of Latvia:

Participants of the rally near the building of the Supreme Council of Ukraine against the new Union Treaty, October 1, 1990:

Somewhere, blood was already flowing with might and main, and houses were burning.

Interethnic conflict in the Kyrgyz SSR, 1990:

Mass riots that took place in Dushanbe from 10 to 17 February 1990. The ruins of the store "Carpets". Vladimir Fedorenko/RIA Novosti:

And only in the RSFSR were nationalist sentiments limited to small indoor circles like the Memory Society:

The Russian protest movement developed under liberal-democratic slogans, while anti-Soviet sentiments so far were bizarrely expressed in the demand "all power to the soviets!":

Against the backdrop of empty shelves in the USSR, the private sector of trade and cooperative business were increasingly being formed, which further undermined the old system of Soviet trade.

December 1, 1990. Whiskey on the shelf of a commercial store. Ptitsyn. RIA:

A line of 6,000 lined up in front of the doors of the Eliseevsky store in the hope of buying alcohol, 1990:

The queue for the first McDonald's, 1990:

Soviet woman in an empty grocery store. Peter Turnley, 1990:

Western journalists simply savored such shots that the next 25 years will fill the meaning of Russian liberals:

Deli bananas 1990:

Vegetable kiosk on Lenin Square Leningrad 1990:

Sale of milk in Leningrad, 1990:

Bread on the shelves. Peter Turnley, 1990:

Announcement in the window of a hardware store, 1990:

In 1990, the democratic St. Petersburg journalist Alexander Nevzorov became the idol of millions of viewers, who will soon unexpectedly turn into an "imperial reactionary", but this will happen as early as next January, 1991:

Fans of the Kino group, Moscow, 1990:

While chaos and disorganization were growing in the country, Gorbachev basked in the rays of glory in the international arena, more precisely, in the West. They just prayed for him.

Joint press conference of Margaret Thatcher and Mikhail Gorbachev in Moscow, RIA Novosti, 1990:

In March 1990, Gorbachev was declared "president of the USSR" in a Western manner:

In the meantime, the leaders of the largest union republics were already conspiring behind his back:

In June 1990, Gorbachev's personal enemy and the country's future gravedigger Boris Yeltsin became Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR:

In 1990, the anniversary of the October Revolution was celebrated in Moscow for the last time at the government level:

The old Soviet life was gone forever.

Moscow. Street scene. Peter Turnley, 1990:

All series of the project "20th century in color":
1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, , 1910, 1911, 1912, , , 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, , , 1925,

Original taken from fish12a V

Original taken from aillarionov V Demographic projections and facts

A kind person drew my attention to the forecast of the population of the Union Republics of the USSR, made by the USSR State Statistics Committee just before the dissolution Soviet Union and published in the publication “Collection of statistical materials. 1990 / Goskomstat of the USSR. - M.: Finance and statistics, 1991. On ss. 65-66 of this collection presents actual data on the population of the republics at the end of 1990, as well as their forecast values ​​for 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015.

The table below shows the actual data on the population for 1990 and the forecast values ​​for 2010 from the specified collection, as well as the actual data on the population of the post-Soviet states for 2010 fromIMF databases. States are ranked by the size of the actual population change (in percent) over the past two decades (penultimate bar). Of particular interest is also the degree to which the forecasts of the USSR Goskomstat of the population for 2010 correspond to their actual values ​​in 2010 (last column)

Actual and projected population in 1990 and 2010

	States	Fact 1990, thousand people	1991 forecast for 2010, thousand people	Fact 2010, thousand people	Difference between the fact and the forecast for 2010, thousand people	Actual growth in 1990-2010 in % to the fact of 1990	Actual growth in 1990-2010 in % to the 2010 forecast
1	Turkmenistan	3701	5538	5439	-99	47,0	-1,8
2	Tajikistan	5379	9053	7616	-1437	41,6	-15,9
3	Uzbekistan	20674	32804	28500	-4304	37,9	-13,1
4	Azerbaijan	7208	9504	8998	-506	24,8	-5,3
5	Kyrgyzstan	4425	6607	5478	-1129	23,8	-17,1
6	Kazakhstan	16828	21898	16434	-5464	-2,3	-25,0
7	Russia	148341	162339	142900	-19439	-3,7	-12,0
8	Armenia	3498	4471	3263	-1208	-6,7	-27,0
9	Belarus	10266	11131	9481	-1650	-7,6	-14,8
10	Ukraine	51680	53277	45783	-7494	-11,4	-14,1
11	Lithuania	3735	4119	3287	-832	-12,0	-20,2
12	Estonia	1584	1701	1340	-361	-15,4	-21,2
13	Georgia	5434	6117	4436	-1681	-18,4	-27,5
14	Moldova	4381	5171	3564	-1607	-18,6	-31,1
15	Latvia	2683	2858	2121	-737	-20,9	-25,8
	USSR, total for post-Soviet states	289817	336558	288640	-47918	-0,4	-14,2

Of all the forecasts of socio-economic indicators, demographic forecasts are considered to be among the most accurate, since they deal with phenomena that are relatively well studied and at the same time quite inertial. However, comparisons of actual data with forecasts made only two decades ago show the scale of deviations that occurred due to the inability to foresee the scale of social, economic, political, military cataclysms that hit many post-Soviet republics in these years (Moldova, Georgia, Armenia , Tajikistan), and to fully take into account the strengthening of the old and the emergence of new migration flows (Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Kazakhstan).

The actual population of Russia in 2010 turned out to be almost 20 million people. less than predicted by the USSR State Statistics Committee at the beginning of 1991. Nevertheless, in percentage terms, this deviation does not look as catastrophic as, for example, for Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Latvia, Kazakhstan. The most accurate forecasts of the USSR Goskomstat for 2010, made at the beginning of 1991, turned out to be for Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan.

Yes, and the total population of the post-Soviet states in 2010 turned out to be almost 48 million people. less than predicted in 1991, and remained about one million people lower than the population of the USSR at the end of 1990.

And I keep thinking: where do the rumors about tens of millions of migrants come from?
It seems that the figures given by the FMS - 11 million migrants throughout Russia - are correct.
Nowhere to take more.

January 1990 begins with the demolition of border barriers on the border between the USSR and Iran in Nakhichevan by thousands of Azerbaijani demonstrators. Armed clashes between Armenians and Azerbaijanis are taking place in Nagorno-Karabakh. There is an actual uprising in Baku. Mass demonstrations in Yerevan. Crimean Tatars (deported by Stalin) begin to return to Crimea. Continuous mass demonstrations in Georgia…

What to do, what to do?!

Troops are sent to Azerbaijan, a state of emergency has been declared in Nagorno-Karabakh and Baku. According to official data, 20 people were killed and 260 injured in the NKAR, 93 were killed and about 600 were injured in Baku. Thousands of Azerbaijani and Armenian refugees are leaving their homes. Who where...

Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia accept a declaration of secession from the USSR and demand the start of negotiations.

The Third Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR in March 1990 elects MS Gorbachev as President of the USSR. Elections are not nationwide, but by congress delegates. The congress changes the wording of Article 6 of the Constitution of the USSR. Now it is not “the CPSU is the guiding and guiding force of Soviet society…”, but “the CPSU, other political parties, as well as trade unions, youth and other public organizations... take part in the development of the policy of the Soviet state.
The monopoly of the CPSU on power has been formally ended. But so far only formally.

In May 1990, the First Congress of People's Deputies of Russia began to work, the March elections of which were won by the "democrats". B. Yeltsin was elected Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of Russia, I. Silaev became the Chairman of the Government of Russia, and G. Yavlinsky became one of his deputies.
The leadership of Moscow and Leningrad is also with the "democrats", the Moscow City Council was headed by G. Popov, the Leningrad City Council - by A. Sobchak
In June 1990, the first congress of the Communist Party of Russia opened, headed by I. Polozkov.

On June 12, 1990, Russia adopted the Declaration of Sovereignty.
Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia did it before her. Well, the Baltic states - this is understandable. They believe that they were forcibly drawn into the USSR, occupied, they say.
But after Russia, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Tajikistan declare their statehood, along with Karelia, Komi, Tatarstan, Sakha-Yakutia, Udmurtia, Chukotka ...

And here is the question: should sovereign states transfer taxes to the union budget? Or is it not necessary? But in full (as established by the union budget) or or how much they can? Or whatever they want? Well, you never know what is written there in the Constitution of the USSR, we have our own!
Russia, for example, feeds everyone, is first in terms of labor productivity, and fifteenth in terms of social spending. That's what Yeltsin said. And he also said that let everyone take sovereignty as much as they can. And responsibility for the well-being of the people, too.
Many leaders in the republics liked these words, especially about sovereignty. Less responsibility. But, in the end, what is this allied center for? Let it bear responsibility, and we will take sovereignty.

The preparation of a union treaty begins, which should determine the new principles of relations between the center and the republics.
Gorbachev's formula: strong republics, strong center. The Soviet Union as a state is preserved. There are many other formulas. Each "sovereign" state has its own. Thank God that they did not think of entering their money right away.

In July 1990, the XXIII Congress of the CPSU opens. After several days of criticism, denunciations, attacks on the leadership of the party, MS Gorbachev was elected General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU. Congress delegate BN Yeltsin announces his withdrawal from the CPSU.

100 mines of Donbass start to strike. Requirements - the resignation of the chairman of the government of the USSR Ryzhkov, the nationalization of the property of the CPSU.

The preparation of the program of economic reforms begins. On the variant, which is called "500 days", Gorbachev and Yeltsin agree on the whole. But if this program is adopted, then all the ministries, the Central Committee of the CPSU, the State Planning Committee, the KGB, and in general will have to be reformed ... And in general, if Gorbachev and Yeltsin agree, then the reforms will go even faster, which means that even faster one will become better and worse for others.

But why the hell are these reforms, when the country needs to restore order?!
Moreover, “signals” are coming from the localities about the insidious plans of the “democrats”, who are rallying, comparing Gorbachev with Ceausescu, and some half-madman is trying to shoot Gorbachev, and more and more disturbing news comes from party organizations. And the Balts declare that the laws of the USSR are no longer for them ...
And professors-economists will not find a common language in any way ...
And Gorbachev abandons the 500 Days program. And Yeltsin declares that we will implement it ourselves. But one of the authors of the program, G. Yavlinsky, declares that the program of reforming the economy of the entire USSR cannot be applied to one republic and defiantly withdraws from the Russian government. Behind him comes the Minister of Finance B. Fedorov from the government of Russia.

And the "parade of sovereignties" is gaining momentum. Inter-republican agreements are concluded between "sovereign" republics. The leadership of the USSR is not involved in this.
Such is the union of republics. Russia takes its Russian budget and establishes the amount of transfers to the USSR budget for 1991 at 23.4 billion rubles - 119 billion less than in 1990. And the army is still all-Union, and the police, and the KGB, and most industrial enterprises, collective farms ... - all this is not a republican economy, but a union one, which is fed from the union budget.

At the end of October, the founding congress of the "Democratic Russia" movement is held, which declares its full support for B. Yeltsin and its opposition to Gorbachev's course.
The disintegration of the CPSU is gaining momentum - in 1990 the membership of the party decreased by almost 3 million people. The Communists handed over party cards, stopped paying membership dues…
In November 1990, a decision was made to submit for all-Union discussion a draft Union Treaty providing for the creation of the USSR - the Union of Sovereign Soviet Republics.
Yes, yes, no longer socialist, but sovereign.

What is this? A betrayal of socialism?

Gorbachev is trying to strengthen the position of the "center" by reforming the government of the USSR - instead of V. Bakatin, B. Pugo becomes the Minister of Internal Affairs. Gorbachev has a vice-president - G. Yanaev. In early 1991, V. Pavlov became Prime Minister of the USSR instead of N. Ryzhkov. The Presidential Council is liquidated and the Security Council is created.

In December 1990, at the IV Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR, deputy Sazhi Umalatova proposed to consider the issue of a vote of no confidence in Gorbachev - it was necessary to change not the course, but the course, and the head of state. 400 parliamentarians agree with it. But this is not enough. Even Democrats do not support Gorbachev's resignation. The congress speaks "for the preservation of the integrity of the country and its name - the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, for the transformation of our multinational state into a voluntary union of sovereign republics - a democratic federal state" and decides on an all-Russian referendum on the preservation of the USSR.
Minister of Foreign Affairs E. Shevardnadze chaotically, emotionally announces at the congress about the threat of dictatorship and about his resignation.
The commander of the Baltic Fleet, Admiral V. Ivanov, also spoke at the congress, stating that "extremist elements create prerequisites for the fact that military personnel at a certain moment can use weapons to protect their families, to protect their children."

Difficulties are also experienced by the “most democratic” authorities in Moscow and Leningrad. Confrontation Sobchak - Lensoviet, Popov - Moscow City Council in a situation of economic, financial and economic crisis does not add either efficiency in decision-making, or authority to the "democrats".

In summing up the results of 1990, Kommersant prophetically noted in relation to the authorities of the "two capitals":

“... a stalemate cannot continue indefinitely - as the experience of history testifies. A power vacuum is most often replaced by a dictatorship…”.

The forecast for the country looked no more optimistic:

“... all this can result in an attempt to build a “barracks socialism”, the model of which is determined by the relative freedom of entrepreneurial activity with high taxes, harsh sanctions for non-fulfillment of contractual obligations and “control over the measure of labor and consumption”. Naturally, in combination with the restriction of political freedoms and "strong executive power." And it is unlikely that anyone will now be able to answer the question of how long we will live in such a barracks.

And the year 1990 ends with a series of acts of sabotage committed in Riga on the night of December 26-27. Explosive devices went off in the territory kindergarten, hospitals, schools teaching in Russian and near the house where the families of the military personnel of the Baltic military district live. There were no victims.

And how did the inhabitants of the USSR assess the results of the past 1990?
We are informed about this by the data of a survey conducted by VCIOM (All-Union Center for the Study of Public Opinion).

THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
- the voice of God?

The year 1990 has come to an end. How did it turn out for the Soviet Union compared to the previous 1989?

Harder than the previous one
Lighter than previous
Same as previous

Indicate among the events of 1990 those that you consider the most important

Events of the year
Election of B. Yeltsin Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR
German unification
The decision to restore in Russia private property to the ground
Adoption of declarations of sovereignty in Russia and other union republics
Cancellation of the 6th article of the Constitution of the USSR
Crisis in the Persian Gulf
National clashes in Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Uzbekistan
Election of M. Gorbachev as President of the USSR
Declaration of Independence of Lithuania and its aftermath
Decree on the return of Soviet citizenship to A. Solzhenitsyn and a number of other dissidents
Dismantling of monuments to Lenin in a number of cities of the country
Transfer of additional powers by the Supreme Soviet of the USSR to M. Gorbachev
XXIX111 Congress of the CPSU
Difficult to answer

What, in your opinion, did the inhabitants of our country lack in 1990 (give no more than three answers)?

Who can be called the "man of 1990"?
Write three to five names (in your republic, in the Soviet Union or abroad, men or women) worthy of such a title.

...
Gorbachev
Nazarbayev
Prunskene

What feelings do you think have manifested, strengthened in the people around you over the past year?

If you knew in 1985 what the changes that began then in the country would lead to, would you support them or not?

How do you feel about the fact that in the current situation the military take power into their own hands and ensure order in the country?

survey data,
conducted by VTsIOM on December 8–17, 1990
Moscow News No. 2 March 24, 1991

1991 began -

Last year of the USSR

On January 2, in Latvia, at the request of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Latvia, the OMON guards the Press House.
On January 7, in Lithuania, a rally is held in front of the building of the Supreme Council against a threefold increase in food prices.
Prime Minister K. Prunskiene resigns, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Lithuania appeals to Gorbachev with a request to introduce direct presidential rule in Lithuania.
Employees of the KGB special unit "Alpha" are sent to Lithuania to "conduct reconnaissance."

On January 11, in Lithuania, the "healthy forces", represented, of course, by the Communist Party of Lithuania, created the "Committee of Public Salvation", which appealed to the Lithuanian Parliament demanding dissolution. Lithuanians come out to rally in defense of their deputies.
Soviet paratroopers occupy first the Department of Regional Protection, then the Press House.

On January 12, a decision was made to send representatives of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR to Lithuania, but at night, Soviet troops stormed the TV tower in Vilnius.
The result of the bloody night to ensure the "constitutional order" is as follows: 14 killed, more than 500 wounded.

January 16, Iraqi troops invade Kuwait, the Americans intervene in the conflict. Another headache for the Soviet leadership. What's next? New war in the Middle East?

Who gave the orders to fire? Who led? Who is responsible? What is actually happening in the country? And what is happening in the world?

Save the USSR and ensure reforms by force?
For some, this is unacceptable. For others, it's ok.

Mass demonstrations in Moscow, Leningrad, letters and telegrams of protest are evidence of the rejection of the forceful solution of political and economic problems.
At the same time, it is evidence of the support of those who advocate the non-use of force.

Gorbachev is for a strong center and the preservation of the USSR. Yeltsin - for a strong Russia and the sovereignty of the republics.
Who are the Russians for?

Gorbachev is the President of the USSR. But none of those responsible for the bloodshed has been punished or fired. Is this the president? And in general, is it the President?
Isn't it time to "use the power"?
But against whom?

A referendum on the preservation of the USSR is scheduled for March 1991. The wording of the question is complex, ornate, and resembles the question "are you for a good life for all?". Who will answer "no"? But what will happen after the referendum?
In the meantime, the new Prime Minister V. Pavlov is holding monetary reform– exchange of banknotes of the old sample for new ones. Who did not have time, he was late. And then there is price reform. For all goods. On the way up.

On February 19, Yeltsin announced the need for Gorbachev's resignation.
On February 21, a group of deputies of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR (S. Goryacheva, B. Isaev, R. Abdulatipov, V. Isakov, A. Veshnyakov, V. Syrovatko) demand Yeltsin's resignation.
February 23 - a rally in Moscow of military personnel and supporters of the CPSU.
February 24 in Moscow - a counter-rally of Yeltsin's supporters.
On February 27, the Conference of Socio-Political and National-Patriotic Associations is held in Moscow. Among the speakers are the First Secretary of the Communist Party of the RSFSR I. Polozkov, General V. Varennikov, writer Y. Bondarev, singer L. Zykina…
March 1 - the strike of Kuzbass miners begins with economic and political demands, including the resignation of Gorbachev already.

In March, the referendum shows that the overwhelming majority of citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan are for the preservation of the USSR.
But at the same time, the Russians are for the introduction of the post of president in Russia. And the Ukrainians are for Ukraine's membership in the USSR on the basis of the Declaration on State Sovereignty of Ukraine.
Is it possible to combine all this? And How?

On March 28, the Third Extraordinary Congress of People's Deputies of the RSFSR began its work. The day before, the Prime Minister of the USSR (Pavlov) announces a ban on holding rallies, processions and demonstrations in Moscow. Troops are sent to the capital.
The deputies suspend the work of the congress, and hundreds of thousands of Muscovites take part in the demonstration in support of Yeltsin.
The decision to use troops was not made. The troops were withdrawn.

In April 1991, the President of the USSR and the leaders of 9 union republics at a meeting in Novo-Ogarevo (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Georgia, Armenia did not participate) adopt a statement "On urgent measures to stabilize the situation in the country and overcome the crisis." Joint work begins on a new Union Treaty, which ends at the end of July 1991.

From an interview with V. Alksnis (deputy group "Union"):

At the March referendum, the people voted for a "union of republics", and at the meeting of "9 + 1" a different wording sounded - "a union of sovereign states" ...
- In fact, this is an attempted coup d'état ...
- Do you support the introduction of a state of emergency in the country?
- Yes. In my opinion, we need to go through a stage of strong authoritarian power, which will be able to ensure the implementation of economic transformations.
- You are talking about the inevitability of civil war. When will it start?
She's on her way...

When did Y. Shevchuk write his famous "Revolution" - about "a premonition of a civil war ..."?

Was it not during these months when the independent media were waging "a systematic campaign of slander against the party, the armed forces, the KGB, the Ministry of Internal Affairs"? And the leadership of the party, the KGB and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in turn, tried to "eliminate democratic and economic transformations and preserve the Soviet empire"?

This is how democrats and conservatives assessed each other's positions.

And all of them increasingly critically assessed the activities of the President of the USSR.

At the Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU (April 24-25, 1991), Gorbachev was directly required to legislate the status of the ruling party for the CPSU, restore control over the media, and in the end - either introduce a state of emergency in the country or leave. And Gorbachev announces that he is leaving. Right now. But not from the presidents, but from the General Secretaries of the Central Committee of the CPSU.
The party members announce a break, gather the Politburo and ask Mikhail Sergeevich to remain at the head of the party. Gorbachev persists. And then the Politburo decides by voting "based on the highest interests ..." to withdraw from consideration Gorbachev's proposal for his resignation from the post of General Secretary.

May is marked by tense pre-election struggle between candidates for the post of President of Russia.
"Democratic Russia" is fighting for the election of Yeltsin, at the same time putting forward slogans for the nationalization of the property of the CPSU, the Communist Party of Russia is fighting for the election of N. Ryzhkov.
Gorbachev is fighting for the signing of the Union Treaty. No longer with democrats and conservatives, but with heads of sovereign states who fear both the dictates of the new union center and its control.

On June 17, the text of the Union Treaty on the Union of Soviet sovereign (again, not socialist) republics is sent for discussion to the republics of the USSR.
On June 17, a closed meeting of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR is held, at which future putschists - Pavlov, Yazov, Pugo, Kryuchkov - speak ... The army is falling apart, crime is becoming more active, the CIA is becoming more active, the laws of the USSR are not being implemented ...
The prime minister needs emergency powers to save the economy and the country ... The same as the president of the USSR ...

July 12 B. Yeltsin takes office, takes the oath, receives the blessing of the Patriarch of All Rus' and congratulations from Gorbachev.

July 20 B. Yeltsin signs the Decree "On the termination of organizational structures political parties and mass social movements in state bodies, institutions and organizations of the RSFSR "- decree on departization

July 23 - another meeting of the leaders of the republics in Novo-Ogaryovo. The text of the Union Treaty was finally agreed upon.

July 25-26 - regular Plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU to discuss new Program parties. And, of course, about who allowed the election of the democrat Yeltsin as President, who retreated from the ideas of communism and socialism, and who allows Yeltsin to expel party committees from enterprises ...

From August 21, it will be a different country. Slightly smaller in territory, in terms of population. It will change the state authorities, their composition, and in general, a lot will change. Very, very much.

On July 29, Gorbachev holds a confidential meeting with the head of Russia, B. Yeltsin, and the head of Kazakhstan, N. Nazarbayev…
They agreed, in particular, that after the signing of the Union Treaty, personnel decisions would be made - the head of the KGB Kryuchkov, Prime Minister Pavlov, Minister of Defense Yazov, Minister of the Interior Pugo, Vice President Yanaev, Head of the State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company Kravchenko would be removed from their positions. posts. Later - the adoption of a new Constitution, new elections of people's deputies of the USSR. It is obvious that the parliament of the Union of Sovereign States can be headed by someone new, not Lukyanov.

The conversation was tapped by the KGB. Kryuchkov became aware of the end of his career. And not only him.

Party committees, in accordance with Yeltsin's decree on departization, must leave the enterprises.
And one more nuance - the approval by the deputies of the union and Russian parliaments of the Union Treaty before its signing is not necessary for its signing by the presidents of the union republics.

The text of the Union Treaty, finally agreed on July 23, was published (not an official publication) in Moscow News in the August 18 issue.
In the same issue - the article "The State Bank warns" the chairman of the State Bank of the USSR V. Gerashchenko with an appeal to the Federation Council and the Supreme Soviets of the republics that certain articles of the agreement, if not changed, will lead to "collapse monetary circulation in the country and the devastating impact of this process on all National economy and welfare of the country.
Department of Law "MN", commenting on the agreement in the article "Did Sakharov dream about this?" focuses on the fact that, perhaps, before the signing of the Treaty, it is better to create a system of trade and economic agreements?

In general, we still need to work on the text of the Union Treaty.

But not only "MN" and Gerashchenko think so ...

November 21, 2012, 19:11

I already made a post about . And now I decided to make a series of posts about different years. Years will be chosen randomly according to mood))) today is 1990. The Silence of the Lambs Directed by Jonathan Demme and starring Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins. Nelson Mandela is released in South Africa after 27 years in prison. A concert is being held at London's Wembley Stadium to commemorate Nelson Mandela's release from prison.
The UK introduces special taxation for married women.
Azerbaijan declares war on Armenia. American tennis player John McKinroe became the first player to be expelled from a Grand Slam tournament (Australian Open) for insulting a referee. The USSR declares its agreement to withdraw all its troops from Czechoslovakia by July 1991. In Chile, there was a peaceful change of political course (the military dictatorship was replaced by a democratically elected government). Lithuania announces its secession from the USSR and the creation of an independent state.
An extraordinary Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR elected M. S. Gorbachev President of the USSR. The Congress excluded from the Constitution of the USSR Article 6 on the leading role of the CPSU.
King Baudouin of Belgium temporarily abdicates the throne so that the country's parliament can allow abortion. Monarch refuses to sign new law for fundamental reasons.
Greta Garbo, American actress, has died at the age of 84. Estonia announces its secession from the USSR and the creation of an independent state.
Microsoft introduced the Windows operating environment.
The representative of the ruling British dynasty, Princess Anne, arrives on an official visit to the USSR. This is the first visit of a member of the British royal family to the USSR since the 1917 revolution. Visit of the President of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev to Canada and the USA (until June 1). The Soviet-American agreements were signed, drawing a line under the Cold War.
After the death of Patriarch Pimen, Alexy II (Aleksei Mikhailovich Ridiger), the former Metropolitan of Leningrad and Novgorod, was elected Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus'. (The emphasis in the name of the patriarch falls on the last syllable.)
The abolition of racial segregation in South Africa. Having declared Kuwait a disputed territory, Iraq is carrying out a large-scale invasion of this country.
To prevent possible Iraqi aggression, US President Bush sends US troops to Saudi Arabia.
The abolition of censorship in the USSR. The German team won the World Cup by beating Argentina 1-0 in Rome.
In the USSR, President Gorbachev issues a decree on the rehabilitation of the victims of Stalinist repressions and on the return of citizenship to dissidents expelled from the country, including Alexander Solzhenitsyn.
Viktor Tsoi, leader of the Kino group, died. 10/2/1990 At midnight of this day, the German Democratic Republic ceases to exist.
Nobel Prize world award goes to Mikhail Gorbachev, USSR. Solemn accession to the throne of Akihito, Emperor of Japan
The film "Home Alone" was released in the USA.
On the Indonesian island of Bali, Mick Jagger married American fashion model Jerry Hall, who had been his girlfriend for over ten years. Margaret Thatcher resigns as British Prime Minister. John Major becomes the new prime minister.
According to the results of the elections in the united Germany, Helmut Kohl becomes the chancellor of the country. Ted Turner and Jane Fonda have announced their wedding.
Born: Kristen Stewart Jennifer Lawrence Liam Hemsworth
Mario Balotelli Anna Selezneva