Coup in Russia, 1991
August 18 at 4:50 p.m.
It was a peaceful Sunday afternoon at Gorbachev's dacha in the Crimea. He was working on his union treaty when there was a knock on his door and he was told that Yuri Plekhanov, a top KGB officer, was there. With Plekhanov was Valery Boldin, Gorbachev's chief of staff. Boldin announced that he represented the State Committee of Emergency, a committee not authorized by Gorbachev.
It was a peaceful Sunday afternoon at Gorbachev's dacha in the Crimea. He was working on his union treaty when there was a knock on his door and he was told that Yuri Plekhanov, a top KGB officer, was there. With Plekhanov was Valery Boldin, Gorbachev's chief of staff. Boldin announced that he represented the State Committee of Emergency, a committee not authorized by Gorbachev.
We don't appreciate what we have until it's gone. Freedom is like that. It's like air. When you have it, you don't notice it.
Boris Yeltsin
what significance did Boris Yeltsin bring to Russia?
he president was asked to sign a statement declaring a state of emergency or the head of the committee, Soviet Vice President Gennady Yanayev, would take control of the country. Gorbachev refused and Boldin left along with the black box; the president's briefcase which held all of the launch codes for the nation's nuclear arsenal.
This group of conspirators were known as the Gang of Eight. They immediately sent troops to Moscow, Leningrad and the Baltics. The one thing they did not think to do was to detain Boris Yeltsin.
This group of conspirators were known as the Gang of Eight. They immediately sent troops to Moscow, Leningrad and the Baltics. The one thing they did not think to do was to detain Boris Yeltsin.