Speech of the GKChP. State Committee for the State of Emergency in the USSR (GKChP)

DUSHANBE, August 19 - Sputnik. Twenty-five years ago, an attempt was made in the USSR coup d'état: in Moscow, a self-proclaimed authority was created - the State Committee for the State of Emergency (GKChP), which lasted until August 21, 1991.

On the night of August 18-19, 1991, representatives of the top leadership of the USSR, who disagreed with the reform policy of the country's President Mikhail Gorbachev and the draft of the new Union Treaty, created the USSR State Emergency Committee.

The main goal of the putschists was to prevent the liquidation of the USSR, which, in their opinion, was to begin on August 20 at the time of the signing of the Union Treaty. According to the treaty, the USSR was to be transformed into a federation. The new federal state was supposed to be called the Union of Sovereign Soviet Republics, with the former abbreviation - the USSR.

The GKChP included Vice-President of the USSR Gennady Yanaev, Prime Minister of the USSR Valentin Pavlov, Minister of Internal Affairs of the USSR Boris Pugo, Minister of Defense of the USSR Dmitry Yazov, Chairman of the Committee state security(KGB) of the USSR Vladimir Kryuchkov, First Deputy Chairman of the USSR Defense Council Oleg Baklanov, Chairman of the Peasant Union of the USSR Vasily Starodubtsev, President of the Association state enterprises and objects of industry, construction, transport and communications of the USSR Alexander Tizyakov.

They were actively supported by Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR, Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces Valentin Varennikov, Chief of Staff of the President of the USSR Valery Boldin, member of the Politburo and Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU Oleg Shenin, Head of the Security of the President of the USSR Vyacheslav Generalov, Head of the Security Directorate of the KGB of the USSR Yuri Plekhanov, Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR Anatoly Lukyanov and some others.

The GKChP relied on the forces of the KGB (Alfa group), the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Dzerzhinsky division) and the Ministry of Defense (Tula airborne division, Tamanskaya motorized rifle division, Kantemirovskaya tank division).

The State Radio and Television provided informational support to the putschists. The nominal head of the conspirators was the vice-president of the USSR Gennady Yanaev.

On August 19, 1991, the day before the signing of the new Union Treaty, the media broadcast the "Statement of the Soviet leadership", which stated that due to the impossibility for health reasons of Gorbachev's performance of the duties of the President of the USSR, in accordance with Article 127.7 of the Constitution of the USSR, the powers of the President of the USSR transferred to Vice-President Gennady Yanaev, a state of emergency is introduced in certain areas of the USSR for a period of six months from four o'clock Moscow time on August 19, 1991, and the State Committee for the State of Emergency in the USSR (GKChP USSR) is formed to govern the country.

GKChP Decree No. 1 prescribed to suspend activities political parties, public organizations, forbade the holding of rallies, street processions. Decree No. 2 prohibited the publication of all newspapers, except for the newspapers Trud, Rabochaya Tribuna, Izvestia, Pravda, Krasnaya Zvezda, " Soviet Russia", "Moskovskaya Pravda", "Lenin's Banner", "Rural Life".

Almost all TV programs have stopped broadcasting.

Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, who at that time was on vacation in Crimea, was isolated at a government dacha in the Crimean village of Foros.

On the morning of August 19, troops and Combat vehicles occupied key points on the highways leading to the center of Moscow, and surrounded the area adjacent to the Kremlin. Several dozen tanks came close to the House of the Supreme Council and the Government of the RSFSR on Krasnopresnenskaya Embankment (White House).

In total, about four thousand military personnel, 362 tanks, 427 armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) were brought to Moscow. Additional parts Airborne Troops(VDV) were deployed in the vicinity of Leningrad, Tallinn, Tbilisi, Riga.

The response was mass demonstrations and protest rallies in Moscow, Leningrad and a number of other cities in the country.

The resistance to the putschists was led by the President of the RSFSR Boris Yeltsin and the leadership of Russia. Yeltsin signed Decrees No. 59 and No. 61, where the creation of the GKChP was qualified as an attempted coup d'état; Union executive authorities, including law enforcement agencies, were reassigned to the President of the RSFSR.

The House of Soviets of the RSFSR became the center of resistance to the GKChP ( White House). By call Russian authorities, masses of Muscovites gathered at the White House, among whom were representatives of various social groups from the democratically minded public, student youth, intellectuals to veterans of the war in Afghanistan.

On the very first day tank company The Taman division went over to the side of the White House defenders.

Boris Yeltsin, standing on a tank, read out an "Appeal to the Citizens of Russia", in which he called the actions of the GKChP "a reactionary, anti-constitutional coup" and called on the country's citizens "to give a worthy answer to the putschists and demand that the country be returned to normal constitutional development." The appeal was signed by the President of the RSFSR Boris Yeltsin, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR Ivan Silaev, acting. Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR Ruslan Khasbulatov.

On the evening of August 19, a press conference of members of the State Emergency Committee was shown on television. Valentin Pavlov, who developed a hypertensive crisis, was absent from it. The members of the GKChP were visibly nervous; the whole world went around the footage of Gennady Yanaev's shaking hands.

Volunteer detachments of defenders gathered around the White House to defend the building from the assault of government troops.

On the night of August 21, in an underground transport tunnel at the intersection of Kalininsky Prospekt (now Novy Arbat Street) and Sadovoye Koltso, three civilians died while maneuvering an infantry fighting vehicle - Dmitry Komar, Vladimir Usov and Ilya Krichevsky.

Within three days it became clear that the society did not support the performance of the State Emergency Committee.

© Sputnik / Sergey Titov

On the morning of August 21, the withdrawal of troops from Moscow began, at 11:30 an emergency session of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR was held. On August 22, Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev and his family returned to Moscow on a Tu-134 plane of the Russian leadership.

All members of the GKChP (with the exception of Boris Pugo, who committed suicide) and the Deputy Minister of Defense, General of the Army Valentin Varennikov, who helped them, as well as a number of other figures (including Anatoly Lukyanov, Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR) were arrested. They were charged under Article 64 of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR (treason).

On February 23, 1994, members of the GKChP were released from prison under an amnesty declared by the State Duma.

© Sputnik / Yuri Abramochkin

TASS-DOSIER. On August 19-22, 1991, 25 years ago, an attempted coup d'etat took place in the Soviet Union, organized by members of the State Committee for the State of Emergency (GKChP) in the USSR.

The editors of TASS-DOSIER prepared a certificate on how the fate of the participants in the State Emergency Committee after August 1991 developed.

Members of the State Committee for the State of Emergency

The GKChP included eight people. The head of the committee was the vice-president of the USSR Gennady Yanaev, who assumed the powers of the president from August 19, 1991 Soviet Union. Also members of the GKChP were Prime Minister of the USSR Valentin Pavlov, Ministers of Defense and Internal Affairs of the USSR Dmitry Yazov and Boris Pugo, Chairman of the Allied State Security Committee (KGB) Vladimir Kryuchkov, First Deputy Chairman of the USSR Defense Council Oleg Baklanov, Chairman of the Peasant Union of the USSR Vasily Starodubtsev, President of the Association of State Enterprises and Objects of Industry, Construction, Transport and Communications of the USSR Alexander Tizyakov.

Arrests of members of the State Emergency Committee

On August 21, 1991, the Prosecutor General of the RSFSR, Valentin Stepankov, authorized the arrest of all members of the State Emergency Committee. On August 22, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR issued a decision to detain Baklanov and Starodubtsev, who were people's deputies of the Soviet Union.

On the same day Yanaev, Kryuchkov, Yazov and Tizyakov were arrested. Pugo committed suicide. On August 23, the remaining members of the GKChP were detained - Pavlov, Baklanov and Starodubtsev. All of them were placed in the pre-trial detention center (SIZO) "Matrosskaya Tishina" in Moscow. Members of the State Committee were charged under paragraph "a" of Art. 64 of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR ("Treason to the Motherland for the purpose of seizing power").

Release from arrest

On June 6, 1992, for health reasons, Starodubtsev was released from the pre-trial detention center. On January 26, 1993, the remaining members of the State Committee for the State of Emergency were released on bail. On February 23, 1994, they were all amnestied by the State Duma of the Russian Federation of the first convocation. On May 6, 1994, on the basis of the parliamentary decree "On the announcement of a political and economic amnesty," the criminal case against the members of the State Emergency Committee was terminated.

Gennady Yanaev

On September 4, 1991, he was removed from the post of Vice-President of the USSR at the V Extraordinary Congress people's deputies THE USSR. After his release from the pre-trial detention center, he took part in congresses and public events of the Communist Party. Served as a consultant to the Committee of Veterans and the Disabled public service"Motherland and Honor", also headed the Fund for Assistance to Disabled Children since childhood.

In 2002-2010 served as head of the department national history and international relations Russian International Academy of Tourism. Died on September 24, 2010 in Moscow after prolonged illness, was buried at the Troekurovsky cemetery of the capital.

Valentin Pavlov

He was dismissed from the post of Prime Minister of the USSR by Mikhail Gorbachev's decree of August 22, 1991 (on August 28, this decision was approved by the Supreme Soviet of the USSR). In 1993, while in the "Matrosskaya Tishina" pre-trial detention center, he wrote the book "August from the Inside: Gorbachev Putsch".

In 1994 he headed his own consulting company"Confidence". In 1994-1995 served as president of Chasprombank, in 1996-1997. was the chief financial adviser to the president of Promstroibank Yakov Dubenetsky.

Since 1998, he worked as vice president of the American company Business Management Systems (specialized in computer technology). In the late 1990s was the vice-president of the economic society Russia, headed the Institute for Research and Promotion of the Development of Regions and Industries under the International Union of Economists, was vice president International Academy management and chairman of its academic council.

In 2002, he suffered a heart attack. He died on March 30, 2003 after a massive stroke, and was buried in Moscow at the Pyatnitskoye cemetery.

Dmitry Yazov

On August 22, 1991, by decree of the President of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev, he was relieved of the post of Minister of Defense of the Soviet Union (on August 28, the decision was approved by the Supreme Council of the USSR). For a year and a half he did not receive a pension (issued in 1993), his son was expelled from the Academy General Staff Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. On February 7, 1994, by decree of the President of the Russian Federation Boris Yeltsin Yazov was dismissed from military service.

Since 1998, he has served as chief military adviser to the Main Directorate of International Military Cooperation of the RF Ministry of Defense, and was also chief adviser-consultant to the head of the Academy of the General Staff of the RF Armed Forces. In 1999, he wrote his memoirs "Blows of Fate: Memoirs of a Soldier and a Marshal". After the re-establishment in 2008 of the Service of General Inspectors of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, he was its leading analyst (general inspector). He also headed the "Officers' Brotherhood" fund of the National Association of Associations of Reserve Officers of the Armed Forces (established in September 2001), the public organization "Committee in Memory of Marshal Zhukov".

Lives in Moscow.

Vladimir Kryuchkov

On August 22, 1991, by decree of the President of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev, he was relieved of the post of chairman of the KGB of the USSR. On October 4, 1994, he was retired from the state security agencies. Since the mid 1990s. - member of the board of directors joint-stock company(JSC) Region, which is part of Vladimir Yevtushenkov's holding AFK Sistema.

According to media reports, the company was an information and analytical center within the holding. Also in the 1990-2000s. was an adviser to the "Experimental Creative Center" of the Russian political scientist Sergei Kurginyan.

In 1996 he wrote a two-volume memoir "Personal business". Since 1997, he was a member of the organizing committee of the Movement in support of the army, defense industry and military science, created by Lieutenant General, deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation of the second convocation Lev Rokhlin. The media also reported that in 1998-1999. Kryuchkov was an adviser to the director of the FSB of Russia, Vladimir Putin, but this information has not been officially confirmed. May 7, 2000 was invited to the inauguration of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Oleg Baklanov

Since 1994 he was a member of governing bodies Party "Russian People's Union" Sergei Baburin. In 2004-2007, when Baburin was deputy speaker of the Duma, Baklanov served as his adviser. He also worked as an adviser to the president of the joint-stock company commercial bank"World". In 2006, he owned a 34% stake in Zenit DB Limited Liability Company ( wholesale). According to media reports, at the turn of the 2000-2010s. was the chairman of the board of directors of Rosobshchemash Corporation OJSC (rocket science).

He headed the regional public organization "Society for Friendship and Cooperation of the Peoples of Russia and Ukraine". In 2004, during presidential elections in Ukraine, spoke in support of Viktor Yanukovych. Currently - Chairman of the Board International Union public associations friendship and cooperation with the CIS countries" Kievan Rus". Lives in Moscow. In 2012 he published a book of memoirs and diaries "Space is my destiny. Notes from "Matrosskaya Tishina".

Vasily Starodubtsev

After his release from the pre-trial detention center, he returned to the work of the chairman of the agro-industrial complex "Novomoskovskoye" and the collective farm. IN AND. Lenin (Tula region), which he led before his arrest. In February 1993, he became a co-founder of the Agrarian Party of Russia, later he was a member of its governing bodies. On December 12, 1993, he was elected a deputy of the Federation Council of the Russian Federation of the first convocation (acted until 1995), was a member of the committee on agrarian policy. Since June 1994, by government order, he has been included in the collegium of the Ministry Agriculture and food of the Russian Federation.

On January 22, 1995, he became a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party. March 23, 1997 was elected governor of the Tula region. (62.82% of the vote), re-elected in 2001. He held this post until April 29, 2005. In December 1995, in the elections to State Duma was in the top three of the federal list of the Agrarian Party of Russia, did not enter the Duma (the party did not overcome the 5% barrier). In 2007-2011 - Deputy of the State Duma of the fifth convocation. He was elected on the list of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation from the Tula region, was a member of the faction of the same name, was a member of the State Duma Committee on Agrarian Issues.

AT different time also headed public organizations of agricultural producers: the Agrarian and Agro-Industrial Union of Russia, the Peasant Union of the CIS. December 4, 2011 was again elected to parliament on the list of the Communist Party. On December 30 of the same year, he suddenly died in Novomoskovsk. He was buried in the village of Spasskoe, Novomoskovsky district, Tula region.

Alexander Tizyakov

In December 1995, in the elections to the State Duma of the second convocation, he put forward his candidacy from the electoral bloc "Union of Patriots" (it included the Russian National Cathedral of Alexander Sterligov and the All-Russian Officers' Assembly of Vladislav Achalov). The block did not overcome the 5 percent barrier. In 2003, he ran for parliament from the Communist Party, took 14th place in the Urals regional group. When distributing deputy mandates, he did not pass to the Duma.

Also engaged entrepreneurial activity. According to SPARK-Interfax, he was a co-founder of a number of companies in the Sverdlovsk region: Antal LLC (wholesale trade in industrial equipment), LLC Insurance Company"Northern Treasury", LLC "Vidikon" (production of chipboard), LLC "Fidelity" (production of consumer goods), etc.

Currently, he is a co-owner (45%) of Nauka 93 LLC. The main type of its activity is "renting out its own non-residential real estate". Lives in Yekaterinburg. He is a member of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, was the chairman of the Yekaterinburg regional social movement"In support of the army and defense power of the Russian Federation."

There are different opinions about the reasons for the creation of the State Emergency Committee, the main ones are:

1) fear of persons who are members of the State Emergency Committee of losing power;

2) saving the USSR from collapse.

According to the first version, scheduled for August 20, 1991. the signing of the new Union Treaty prompted the Conservatives to decisive action, since the agreement deprived the top of the CPSU of real power, posts and privileges. According to the secret agreement between M. Gorbachev, B. Yeltsin and the President of Kazakhstan N. Nazarbayev, which became known to the chairman of the KGB V. Kryuchkov, after the signing of the agreement, it was supposed to replace the Prime Minister of the USSR V. Pavlov N. Nazarbayev. The same fate awaited the Minister of Defense, Kryuchkov himself, and a number of other high-ranking officials.

I would like to believe that the organizers of the GKChP were driven not by selfish intentions, but by patriotism, the desire to preserve the Soviet Union. Let's take a closer look at this version.

Since December 1990, the chairman of the KGB of the USSR V.A. Kryuchkov analyzed the situation in the country and tried to introduce a state of emergency in the ways provided for by the Constitution. The introduction of a state of emergency was necessary in order to restore the rule of law in the USSR and stop the collapse of the Union. By the beginning of August 1991, it became clear that it would not be possible to do this by legal means: they began to prepare a coup. August 7-15, 1991 V.A. Kryuchkov repeatedly met with future members of the State Emergency Committee. On August 18, surveillance was established for the President of the USSR M.S. Gorbachev, who at that moment was on vacation in the Crimea, and the President of the RSFSR B.N. Yeltsin.

On August 18, Vice-President of the USSR G.I. Yanaev issued a decree on his assumption of the post of President of the USSR. On the same night, the State Committee for the State of Emergency was created. It included the Internet. "Statement of the Soviet leadership". 08/18/1991:

V.S. Pavlov - Prime Minister of the USSR;

D.T. Yazov - Minister of Defense of the USSR;

V.A. Kryuchkov - Chairman of the KGB of the USSR;

O.D. Baklanov - Deputy Chairman of the USSR Defense Council;

B.K. Pugo - Minister of Internal Affairs of the USSR;

V.A. Starodubtsev - Chairman of the Peasant Union of the USSR;

A.I. Tizyakov - President of the Association of State Enterprises of the USSR.

The main goal of the putschists was to "prevent the collapse of the Union", which, in their opinion, was to begin on August 20 during the first stage of the signing of a new union treaty, turning the USSR into a confederation independent states. It was on August 20 that the representatives of the RSFSR and Kazakhstan were to sign the agreement.

The putschists chose the moment when the President was away and announced his temporary removal from power for health reasons.

The GKChP relied on the forces of the KGB (Alpha), the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Division named after Dzerzhinsky) and the Moscow Region (Tula Airborne Division, Taman Division, Kantemirovskaya Division). In total, about 4 thousand military personnel, 362 tanks, 427 armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles were brought into Moscow. Additional parts of the Airborne Forces were deployed in the vicinity of Leningrad, Tallinn, Tbilisi, Riga. "Itogi Nedeli" newspaper. Article: "Twenty years after the coup". 08/21/2011. Commanded airborne troops Generals Pavel Grachev and his deputy Alexander Lebed. However, the putschists did not have full control over your powers; so, 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, Yeltsin delivered his famous message to the assembled supporters.

Informational support for the putschists was provided by the State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (for three days, news releases invariably included exposure of various acts of corruption and violations of the law committed as part of the "reformist course"). The GKChP also enlisted the support of the Central Committee of the CPSU, however, these institutions could not have a noticeable impact on the situation in the country, and for some reason the committee could not or did not want to mobilize that part of society that shared the views of the members of the GKChP.

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Formation of the State Committee for the State of Emergency

Preparing to create a committee

From the "Conclusion on the materials of the investigation of the role and participation of officials of the KGB of the USSR in the events of August 19-21, 1991":

Members of the State Committee for the State of Emergency

1. Yanaev Gennady Ivanovich (1937-2010) - Vice-President of the USSR, Acting President of the USSR (August 18 - 21, 1991), member of the Central Committee of the CPSU. - Chairman of the State Emergency Committee
2. Baklanov Oleg Dmitrievich (b. 1932) - First Deputy Chairman of the USSR Defense Council, member of the Central Committee of the CPSU.
3. (1924-2007) - Chairman of the KGB of the USSR, member of the Central Committee of the CPSU.
4. Pavlov Valentin Sergeevich (1937-2003) - Prime Minister of the USSR, member of the Central Committee of the CPSU.
5. Pugo Boris Karlovich (1937-1991) - Minister of Internal Affairs of the USSR, member of the Central Committee of the CPSU.
6. (1931-2011) - Chairman of the Peasant Union of the USSR, member of the Central Committee of the CPSU.
7. Tizyakov Alexander Ivanovich (b. 1926) - President of the Association of State Enterprises and Objects of Industry, Construction, Transport and Communications of the USSR.
8. Yazov Dmitry Timofeevich (b. 1924) - Minister of Defense of the USSR, member of the Central Committee of the CPSU.

Political positions of the State Committee for the State of Emergency

In its first appeal, the GKChP assessed the general mood in the country as very skeptical about the new political course towards dismantling the highly centralized federal structure of governing the country, one-party political system and state regulation of the economy, condemned the negative phenomena that the new course, according to the drafters, brought to life, such as speculation and the shadow economy, proclaimed that "the development of the country cannot be based on a drop in the living standards of the population" and promised a tough restoration of order in the country and the solution of economic problems without mentioning, however, specific measures.

Television announcement of the creation of the State Emergency Committee

Official statement of the GKChP

Due to the impossibility for health reasons of Gorbachev's performance, the duties of the President of the USSR and the transfer in accordance with Article 127/7 of the Constitution of the USSR, the powers of the President of the USSR to the Vice-President of the USSR Yanaev Gennady Ivanovich.

In order to overcome the deep and comprehensive crisis, political, interethnic, civil confrontation, chaos and anarchy that threaten the life and security of the citizens of the Soviet Union, the sovereignty, territorial integrity, freedom and independence of our state.

2. To establish that throughout the territory of the USSR, the Constitution of the USSR and the Laws of the USSR have unconditional leadership.

3. To govern the country and effectively implement the state of emergency, establish "State Committee for the State of Emergency" in the USSR (GKChP of the USSR), in the following composition:

• Baklanov Oleg Dmitrievich - First Deputy Chairman of the USSR Defense Council;
• Kryuchkov Vladimir Alexandrovich - Chairman of the KGB of the USSR;
• Pavlov Valentin Sergeevich - Prime Minister of the USSR, Cabinet of Ministers of the USSR;
• Pugo Boris Karlovich - Minister of Internal Affairs of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs;
• Starodubtsev Vasily Alexandrovich - Chairman of the Peasant Union of the USSR;
• Tizyakov Alexander Ivanovich - President of the Association of State Enterprises and Objects of Industry, Construction, Transport and Communications;
• Yazov Dmitry Timofeevich - Minister of Defense of the USSR of the Ministry of Defense of the USSR;
• Yanaev Gennady Ivanovich - Vice-President of the USSR, Acting President of the USSR.

4. Establish that the decisions of the State Emergency Committee of the USSR are mandatory for strict execution by all authorities and administrations, officials and citizens throughout the territory of the USSR.

Signature: Yanaev, Pavlov, Baklanov.

In a difficult, critical hour for the fate of the fatherland and our peoples, we turn to you. Above our great homeland hung deadly danger. The policy of reforms initiated by M. S. Gorbachev, conceived as a means of ensuring the country's dynamic development and democratization public life, by virtue of different reasons, has reached a dead end. The initial enthusiasm and hopes were replaced by disbelief, apathy and despair. The authorities at all levels have lost the trust of the population. Politicism has ousted concern for the fate of the fatherland and the citizen from public life. An evil mockery is being imposed on all the institutions of the state. The country, in fact, became ungovernable. Taking advantage of the freedoms granted, trampling on the newly emerging sprouts of democracy, extremist forces arose, heading for the liquidation of the Soviet Union, the collapse of the state and the seizure of power at any cost. The results of the nationwide referendum on the unity of the fatherland have been trampled on. Cynical speculation on national feelings is just a front to satisfy ambitions. Neither today's misfortunes of their peoples, nor their tomorrow disturb political adventurers. The crisis of power had a catastrophic effect on the economy. A chaotic, spontaneous slide towards the market caused an explosion of regional, departmental, group and personal egoism. The war of laws and the encouragement of centrifugal tendencies resulted in the destruction of a single national economic mechanism that had been taking shape over decades. The result was a sharp drop in the standard of living of the vast majority Soviet people, the flourishing of speculation and the shadow economy. It is high time to tell people the truth: if urgent and decisive measures are not taken to stabilize the economy, then, in the very near future, famine and new round impoverishment, from which one step to mass manifestations spontaneous discontent with devastating consequences. Only irresponsible people can hope for some help from abroad. No handouts will solve our problems - salvation is in our own hands. The time has come to measure the credibility of each person or organization by a real contribution to recovery and development National economy. The deepening destabilization of the political and economic situation in the Soviet Union is undermining our position in the world; here and there revanchic notes were heard. Demands are being put forward to revise our borders. There are even voices about the dismemberment of the Soviet Union and about the possibility of establishing international guardianship over individual objects and regions of the country. This is the bitter reality. The State Committee for the State of Emergency" in the USSR is fully aware of the depth of the crisis that has struck our country. He assumes responsibility for the fate of the Motherland, and is determined to take the most serious measures to bring the state and society out of the crisis as soon as possible. We promise to hold a broad nationwide discussion of the draft of a new union treaty, immediately restore law and order, put an end to the bloodshed, declare a merciless war on the criminal world, put an end to the arbitrariness of the plunderers of the people's property. We stand for truly democratic processes, for a consistent policy of reforms leading to the economic and social prosperity of our Motherland. In a healthy society, the constant improvement of the well-being of all citizens will become the norm. We will focus on protecting the interests of the broadest sections of the population. By developing the multifaceted nature of the national economy, we will also support private enterprise. Our first priority will be to solve food and housing problems. We call on all Soviet people to the shortest time reestablish labor discipline and order, to raise the level of production, which would then decisively move forward - our life and the fate of the fatherland depend on this. We are a peace-loving country and will strictly comply with all our obligations, but no one will ever be allowed to encroach on our sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. We call on everyone true patriots, people of good will to put an end to the current time of troubles, realize their duty to the Motherland and provide all possible support to the efforts to bring the country out of the crisis.

Official Decree No. 1 (GKChP)

On August 19, 1991, in the continuation of the information program "Time", the announcer of the central television, Vera Shebeko, read out official First Decree of the State Emergency Committee of the USSR:

In order to protect the vital interests of the peoples and citizens of the USSR, the independence and territorial integrity of the country, restore law and order, stabilize the situation, overcome a severe crisis, prevent chaos, anarchy, and fratricidal civil war. The State Committee for the State of Emergency (GKChP), decides: 1. All authorities and administrations of the USSR, Union and autonomous republics, territories, regions, cities, districts, towns and villages to ensure strict compliance with the state of emergency, in accordance with the Law of the USSR on legal regime state of emergency and the decrees of the State Emergency Committee of the USSR. In case of failure to ensure the implementation of this regime, the powers of the relevant authorities and administration are suspended, and the implementation of their functions is entrusted to persons specially authorized by the USSR State Emergency Committee. 2. Immediately disband the structures of power and control, paramilitary formations acting contrary to the Constitution of the USSR. 4. Suspend the activities of political parties, public organizations and mass movements that impede the normalization of the situation. 5. Due to the fact that the State Committee for the State of Emergency (GKChP) in the USSR temporarily takes over the functions of the USSR Security Council, the activities of the latter are suspended. 6. Citizens, institutions and organizations to immediately hand over all types of firearms, ammunition, illegally held by them, explosives, military equipment and equipment. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR, the KGB and the Ministry of Defense of the USSR ensure the strict implementation of this requirement. In case of refusal to seize them forcibly, with the involvement of violators to strict criminal and administrative liability. In the government's White House, Boris N. Yeltsin refuses to cooperate with the GKChP and decides not to obey the actions of the GKChP, calling their actions unconstitutional. The leadership of the State Emergency Committee sends a tank battalion of the 1st motorized rifle regiment of the 2nd Taman division under the command of the chief of staff Sergei Evdokimov to the building. Liquidation of the State Emergency Committee and arrest On the night of August 20, the first clash between the army and demonstrators takes place in Moscow; three demonstrators died. On the morning of August 21, the Minister of Defense of the USSR D.T. Yazov orders his military leaders and commanders to withdraw all units from Moscow to their places of permanent deployment and lift the blockade of the White House. At 9:00 at a meeting with and. about. President of the USSR G. I. Yanaev, it was decided to send a delegation to Foros to M. S. Gorbachev, consisting of: Luktyanov, Yazov, Ivashko and Kryuchkov The arrested were placed in the Matrosskaya Tishina prison, where they stayed until 1994, when they were released under an amnesty by the State Duma. "Accomplices" and "sympathizers" After the failure of the August coup, in addition to the members of the State Emergency Committee, some persons were brought to justice and taken into custody, who, according to the investigation, actively contributed to the State Emergency Committee. Among the "accomplices" were: Ageev Genius Evgenievich - Colonel General, First Deputy Chairman of the KGB of the USSR. Akhromeev Sergey Fedorovich - Marshal of the Soviet Union, Advisor to the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, Advisor to the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, Advisor to the President of the USSR M. S. Gorbachev on military affairs. Boldin Valery Ivanovich - head General department Central Committee of the CPSU. Varennikov Valentin Ivanovich - General of the Army, Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces, Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR. Generalov Vyacheslav Vladimirovich - head of security of Gorbachev's residence in Foros Lukyanov Anatoly Ivanovich (born 1930) - Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR; his appeal was broadcast on TV and radio along with the main documents of the State Emergency Committee. Medvedev Vladimir Timofeevich - Major General, head of Gorbachev's security. Makashov Albert Mikhailovich - Commander of the Volga-Ural Military District Shenin Oleg Semyonovich - member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU. Prokofiev Yuri Anatolyevich - member of the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee, 1st Secretary of the CPSU MGK. Ryzhkov Nikolai Ivanovich - Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR Kalinin Nikolai Vasilievich - commander of the Moscow Military District, military commandant from the State Emergency Committee in Moscow. Kruchina Nikolay Efimovich - manager of affairs of the Central Committee of the CPSU. Grushko Viktor Fedorovich - First Deputy Chairman of the KGB of the USSR All of them were released under an amnesty in 1994. According to the memoirs of Yu. A. Prokofiev, in preparing decisions of the State Emergency Committee and bringing them to government agencies the secretary of the Central Committee Yu. A. Manaenkov took part, who, however, was not held accountable later. The leaders of the republican authorities in most cases did not enter into open confrontation with the State Emergency Committee, but sabotaged its actions. Open support for the GKChP was expressed by the Chairman of the Supreme Council of Belarus N.I. Dementei, 1st Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine S.I. Gurenko and 1st Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Azerbaijan SSR, President of Azerbaijan Ayaz Niyazi oglu Mutalibov, and the leaders of Russia declared themselves opponents of the GKChP - B. N. Yeltsin and Kyrgyzstan - A. A. Akaev. In the Baltic countries, the leadership of the Communist Party of Lithuania (CPSU) (M. Burokyavichyus), the Communist Party of Latvia (A. Rubiks), and the Estonian Intermovement (E. Kogan), who had lost power by that time, came out in support of the GKChP. After the August events The Russian leadership, which led the fight against the GKChP, ensured the political victory of the supreme bodies of Russia over the Union Center. From the autumn of 1991, the Constitution and laws of the RSFSR, the Congress of People's Deputies and the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR, as well as the President of the RSFSR received complete supremacy over the laws of the USSR on the territory of Russia. With rare exceptions, the leaders of the regional authorities of the RSFSR, who supported the State Emergency Committee, were removed from their posts. On December 8, 1991, the presidents of the three founding states of the USSR B. N. Yeltsin, L. M. Kravchuk and S. S. Shushkevich, despite the decision of the all-Union referendum on the preservation of the USSR Union, signed the Belovezhskaya Agreement on the termination of the USSR and the creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). On December 25, 1991, Gorbachev officially resigned as President of the USSR. On December 26, 1991, the USSR officially ceased to exist. In its place, a number of independent states were formed (currently - 19, of which 15 are UN members, 2 are partially recognized by UN member countries, and 2 are not recognized by any of the UN member countries). As a result of the collapse of the USSR, the territory of Russia (the successor country of the USSR in terms of external assets and liabilities, and in the UN) decreased compared to the territory of the USSR by 24% (from 22.4 to 17 million km²), and the population decreased by 49% (from 290 to 148 million people) (at the same time, the territory of Russia has practically not changed compared to the territory of the RSFSR). The ruble zone and the unified Armed Forces of the USSR collapsed (the CSTO was created instead of them, except for the three Baltic republics, Moldova, Ukraine and subsequently Georgia, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan). Execution and dispersal of Parliament 1993 Opinion of former members of the State Emergency Committee Referring to the memoirs of the 1st Secretary of the CPSU MGK Yuri Prokofiev. Gorbachev himself claims that only practical steps on the implementation of the Law of the USSR "On the legal regime of the state of emergency", which did not involve anti-constitutional actions, and that he never agreed to the introduction of a state of emergency. Display in art see also Literature Decrees No. 1 and No. 2 of the State Committee for the State of Emergency in the USSR memoirs A. S. Chernyaev“Diaries of A. S. Chernyaev. Soviet policy 1972-1991 - inside view G. I. Yanaev"GKChP against Gorbachev" - M. : Eksmo, 2010. - 240 p. - (Court of History), ISBN 978-5-699-43860-0 A. I. Lukyanov“August 91st. Was there a conspiracy? (2010; publishers: Eksmo, Algorithm) Links Chronicle: , Why did the GKChP lose (an excerpt from the book by A. Baigushev)