Soviet supreme legislature recognises the independence of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Within weeks, all but Kazakhstan and Russia have done the same. The Ukrainian parliament declares independence. Gorbachev resigns as leader of the Communist Party, orders the seizure by the state of its property, bans it from all state organisations and suggests it dissolve itself. The Latvian parliament declares independence. The coup collapses, destroying the conservative caucus at the centre and giving a huge boost to separatists in republics. Estonian parliament declares independence. A state of emergency is declared in some areas. The Warsaw Pact of East European nations disbanded June 1991īoris Yeltsin is elected president of Russia 19 August 1991Ĭiting Mr Gorbachev’s alleged ill health, his deputy Gennady Yanayev takes over as president of the head at the hardline Communist junta. March 1991Ī referendum produces an overwhelming majority for preserving the Soviet Union as a “federation of equal sovereign republics” but six republics boycott the vote. The first draft of a Union Treaty proposed by Gorbachev gives substantial powers to the 15 republics, but four - Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Georgia - refuse to sign. Parliament empowers Mr Gorbachev to issue decrees in almost all sectors of public activity. Gorbachev is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The Soviet parliament approves plans to abandon Communist central planning of the economy in favour of a market economy. Pro-reform demonstrators hold huge rallies across the Soviet Union.Įast and West Germany unite after intensive six-power negotiations in which Mr Gorbachev plays a key role. Parliament agrees to give Mr Gorbachev an executive presidency, with a big increase in powers. The Communist Party surrenders its guaranteed monopoly of power. Bush, at a summit in Malta, hail the end of the Cold War. Mr Gorbachev and US President George H.W. The Soviet Union makes no attempt to intervene as its satellite regimes fall. Popular revolutions sweep away communist governments in East Germany and the rest of Eastern Europe. Mr Gorbachev consolidates power by becoming chairman of the executive committee of the Supreme Soviet, the national legislature. All Soviet and US intermediate-range missiles are to be dismantled. Mr Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan sign the first treaty to cut nuclear arsenals in Washington. Prominent Russian reformer Boris Yeltsin clashes with Mr Gorbachev over the pace of the state’s restructure and leaves the ruling Politburo. Soviet authorities admit it only three days later, raising doubts about the commitment to glasnot. An explosion at Chernobyl nuclear reactor spreads a radioactive cloud across Europe.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |