Translated material
Putsch. Chronicle of troubled days. Coup: day three. August 21, 1991.
12.00. THERE ARE NO OFFICIAL DATA ABOUT THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS IN MOSCOW
MOSCOW /RIA/. Reliable information about the number of victims of the night clash between the military and demonstrators in the area of the Garden Ring and New Arbat is still missing. Medical institutions, including the Institute of Emergency Medicine named after. Sklifosovsky and the Moscow Main Health Department “do not have such data.” The duty officer at the Moscow City Internal Affairs Directorate repeated information from Central Television that two people were hit by a tank. Sources close to the House of Soviets of Russia call the figure “two, three or four people crushed by infantry fighting vehicles” and “one or two killed from firearms.”
NORILSK /PF/. The Taimyr regional branch of the Democratic Party of Russia appealed to citizens to support the position of the Russian leadership. The newspaper "Zapolyarnaya Pravda" published the position of the city committee of the CPSU, calling on the residents of Norilsk to work calmly, which will help stabilize the situation.
NOVGOROD /PF/. The session of the City Council decided not to obey the resolutions and decrees of the self-appointed committee on the state of emergency, but to be guided only by the legislative acts of the Supreme Council and the Russian government. The creation of the committee is regarded as a fascist putsch.
BRYANSK /PF/. The chairman of the regional council, A.N. Veselov, announced on the radio that he remained faithful to the Constitution of Russia. The Presidium of the Regional Council adopted an appeal to the population of the region, which states that legally elected bodies continue to operate in the Bryansk region.
BLAGOVESHCHENSK /PF/. At a meeting of the executive committee of the democratic bloc "For the Revival of Russia" a statement was adopted by a group of city deputies: "An anti-constitutional coup took place in Moscow. The removal of the President of the country is illegal."
SARATOV /PF/. The editors of the Saratov City Council newspaper unconditionally defended the constitutional power of the republic. Its editor, People's Deputy of the RSFSR Boris Plokhotenko, told our correspondent: “Let this be our last issue, but we will not bend our hearts, Saratov residents will find out the truth about the night putsch.”
12.09. ADDRESS BY THE ALL-UNION COUNCIL OF PARENTS OF MILITARY SERVICEMEN
MOSCOW /RIA/. The All-Union Council of Parents of Military Personnel (AUCP) expressed full support for the Appeal of the leaders of Russia, condemned the formation of the State Emergency Committee and demanded that USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev be given the opportunity to speak on the Central Television, as well as immediately convene an extraordinary congress of people's deputies of the USSR. The appeal calls on the people of the country to hold an indefinite general strike.
Currently, members of the ARVV have gone to military formations with the aim of agitating the military “against their participation in the coup.”
12.16. THE "ECHO OF MOSCOW" TRANSMITTER IS TURNED OFF BY ORDER OF THE CITY COMMANDANT
MOSCOW /RIA/. “By order of a group of paratroopers that entered the premises of the Ekho Moskvy radio station, at 10:18 a.m. on August 21, its broadcasts were stopped,” Sergei Fonton, deputy editor-in-chief of Ekho Moskvy, told a RIA correspondent. According to the group commander, Lieutenant Colonel Zakharov, this was done by "by order of the city commandant. The reason was the broadcast from 01.19 to 03.47 at night of an unknown radio station on our wavelength and with our music screensavers. For two and a half hours, the provocateurs gave out misinformation, sharply exaggerating the number of victims."
12.30. MILITARY TAKE OVER TV AND RADIO STATIONS
VILNIUS /RIA/. On August 21, at about 4 a.m., soldiers of the Soviet Army occupied television and radio stations in the cities of Siauliai, Vieshinta and Panevezys, the Lithuanian Information Bureau reported. The employees there were expelled from the buildings. In Panevėžys, the local telephone exchange was also seized.
12.55. KRYUCHKOV IS EXPECTED TO ARRIVE AT THE SESSION OF THE RUSSIAN AF
MOSCOW /RIA/. Chairman of the KGB of the USSR Vladimir Kryuchkov must appear at the emergency session of the Supreme Council of the RSFSR, which opened on August 21, at 13.00 Moscow time. This was announced by the President of the RSFSR Boris Yeltsin, speaking at the session.
13.10. SPEECH BY BORIS YELTSIN AT THE EXTRAORDINARY SESSION OF THE RSFSR Supreme Soviet
MOSCOW /RIA/. “The putsch occurred precisely at a time when democracy began to grow and gain momentum,” RSFSR President Boris Yeltsin said at an emergency session of the Russian parliament. He recalled that there had already been two attempts at a right-wing coup - at the end of last year, when everything was stopped only by the statement of Eduard Shevardnadze and the position of the world community, and at the recent session of the USSR Supreme Council, “when the same people who became the authors of the current putsch demanded for themselves special powers."
Yeltsin again stated that “the coup is unconstitutional, since no statements have been received from the legally elected President of the country and there is no medical evidence that Gorbachev is incompetent.” He referred to the opinion of the personal physician of the President of the USSR, who saw Gorbachev on the eve of the coup.
Yeltsin reported telephone conversations with the leaders of Western countries and union republics, who, according to him, firmly stated that they condemn “the anti-constitutional coup, do not recognize the State Emergency Committee and support the Russian leadership,” and will also take all measures to The world community expressed its attitude "to the events in the USSR. Yeltsin appealed to the leaders of the West with a request to demand communication with President Gorbachev, blocked at his dacha in Crimea.
13.20. RUSLAN KHASBULATOV ABOUT THE REASONS OF THE COUP
MOSCOW /RIA/. “The unconstitutional coup is caused by the desire to torpedo the new Union Treaty,” said the acting chairman of the Russian parliament, Ruslan Khasbulatov, speaking on August 21 at an emergency session of the Supreme Council of the RSFSR. Another “reason for the putsch” he called the dissatisfaction of the reactionary forces with the influence that the progressive policies of the Russian leadership had on the course of events in the country. Khasbulatov listed the desire to eliminate the Russian leadership as one of the “main goals of the conspirators.” The coup is also a reaction to the course of radical reforms that, after much hesitation, was adopted by USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev.
Khasbulatov called on parliamentarians to adopt a block of decisions at the session, in particular, a law approving the latest actions of Russian President Boris Yeltsin. He expressed the opinion that at such a decisive moment, differences between members of the RSFSR Armed Forces should be discarded.
The head of the Russian parliament expressed indignation at the coverage of current events in the country by the newspapers Pravda, Sovetskaya Rossiya and Soviet TV. He proposed to nationalize these media already at this session. Khasbulatov expressed bewilderment at the position of the journalists of these editorial offices, who tolerate their leaders who are “ready to serve any government.”
13.31. THE SESSION INSTRUCTED SILAEV TO MEET WITH GORBACHEV, KRYUCHKOV WILL NOT COME TO THE RUSSIAN DEPUTIES
MOSCOW /RIA/. “We must make sure that Gorbachev is alive and well,” said RSFSR Prime Minister Ivan Silaev at an emergency session of the RSFSR Supreme Council. He asked the deputies to instruct him and the Vice-President of the RSFSR Alexander Rutsky, together with the Chairman of the USSR KGB Vladimir Kryuchkov and medical experts, to go to where President Gorbachev was. This decision was made unanimously.
As one of the deputies reported from the spot (RIA, surname is still unknown), he has reliable information that Vladimir Kryuchkov gave the order to the special forces of the KGB of the USSR and the GRU of the General Staff of the USSR to seize the “White House” and intern the leadership of Russia. However, Khasbulatov demanded proof of this and interrupted the deputy’s message. A break was announced at the session for 30 minutes, and at this time a message was received that Kryuchkov would not be able to come to the session.
13.53. YELTSIN: MEMBERS OF THE GKChP ARE HEADING TOWARDS THE AIRPORT
MOSCOW /RIA/. As Russian President Boris Yeltsin just announced at a session of the RSFSR Supreme Council, “members of the so-called State Emergency Committee in the USSR are heading towards Vnukovo airport.” He proposed to instruct Aeroflot, the Russian KGB and the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs to block them at the airport. The session approved the Russian leader's proposals.
As eyewitnesses told RIA, before noon, in the courtyard of the USSR KGB, packed items were loaded into two passenger cars belonging to the Chairman of the USSR KGB, Vladimir Kryuchkov. The limousines later left in an unknown direction.
14.06. SVERDLOVSK OMON IS READY TO FLY TO MOSCOW TO SUPPORT THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT
MOSCOW /RIA/. The Sverdlovsk OMON sent a message to the RSFSR State Committee on Defense Issues that it was ready to fly to Moscow to support and protect the building of the House of Soviets of the RSFSR. The chairman of the committee, Colonel General Kobets, had previously sent a telefax to Sverdlovsk about the need for this assistance.OMSK /PF/. The head of the Omsk garrison, Lieutenant General Moroz, in a conversation with the chairman of the City Council Vladimir Varnavsky, declared his loyalty to the Russian government. Moroz's reaction to Yeltsin's Decree on assuming the functions of Supreme Commander-in-Chief is still unknown.
Representatives of the Omsk regional military registration and enlistment office find out in the Soviet press centers which journalists are liable for military service. The city daily newspapers "Evening Omsk" and "Omskaya Pravda" were published on August 21 without publishing documents of the Russian government, thereby not complying with the resolution of the City Council of August 20 this year. The Omsk weekly "Oreol" was published in a photocopier version with two special issues, which contain information from RIA, IMA-press on the situation in the country, and Decrees of the President of the RSFSR.
14.12. The USSR KGB DEMANDES THE TV BROADCAST OF THE SESSION OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF RUSSIA BE TURNED OFF
MOSCOW /RIA/. Acting Chairman of the Russian Parliament Ruslan Khasbulatov said that two KGB officers who arrived at the House of Soviets demanded that the television broadcast of the session be turned off.
14.20. TROOPS WILL BE WITHDRAWN FROM THE CENTER OF MOSCOW
MOSCOW /RIA/. An agreement was reached between Vice-Mayor Luzhkov and Chief of Staff of the Moscow Military District Zolotov to withdraw troops from the central part of the city and concentrate them on two sites within the city. This was reported at a meeting of the Moscow City Council Presidium. Negotiations are underway on the further withdrawal of troops from Moscow.
14.24. MOSCOW /RIA/.
Address by the President of the RSFSR Boris Yeltsin to the soldiers of the separate motorized rifle division named after. Dzerzhinsky:
Compatriot warriors! Sons!
I, the President of Russia, elected by the will of our long-suffering people, appeal to you at this difficult time for the Fatherland. You have a choice: either support a group of conspirators who usurped power, carry out their criminal order and thereby go against your people, or defend democracy, the legitimate government elected by the people.
The first path leads the country to a fratricidal civil war, to brutal bloodshed. The second guarantees civil peace, constitutional order and security.
My dear sons! I hope for you, for your right choice. I hope that you will side with the legitimate authorities - the President of the RSFSR. I am sure that you will not allow violence, that your fathers and mothers will not be bitter for their children. Compatriots! Warriors! Dzerzhintsy!
I give you an order: immediately, without hesitation, go over to the side of the legitimate authority, while maintaining order and discipline. Humiliated, insulted, great Russia is calling you.
14.55. MEMBERS OF THE GKCHP LEFT MOSCOW?
MOSCOW /RIA/. As a RIA correspondent learned, the presidential plane had just taken off from Vnukovo-2 airport. According to some reports, there are several members of the State Emergency Committee and people close to them on board the plane, who are heading to Crimea. On another plane, Russian Prime Minister Ivan Silaev flew after them in the same direction.
At the same time, RIA received information from an officer who wished to remain anonymous, who is responsible for ensuring space communications during flights of the USSR President's aircraft. This officer reported that at about 14.00 on August 21, they received an order from the government communications department of the KGB of the USSR to put into operation a satellite communications system. He also told RIA that on August 19 they were supposed to provide communications during Gorbachev’s flight from Crimea to Moscow, but in the morning an order was received that the flight would not take place.
15.04. “I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT ACCEPT THE LAW THAT IS HAPPENING IN THE COUNTRY,” VADIM BAKATIN SAID
MOSCOW /RIA/. “I absolutely do not accept the lawlessness that is happening in the country,” said Advisor to the President of the USSR Vadim Bakatin, speaking on August 21 at a session of the Russian parliament. “I, as a citizen and as an official, a member of the country’s Security Council,” he continued, “have great respect for the courageous actions of the Russian leadership, the deputy corps and Muscovites.”
Bakatin came to the session after learning about Kryuchkov’s offer to Yeltsin to fly with him to Crimea to see Gorbachev. Bakatin intended to propose his candidacy for this trip, believing that it was too dangerous for the Russian President. He insists that Bakatin or Evgeniy Primakov be sent instead of Silaev or Rutskoi.
Bakatin considers the first priority to be to get Mikhail Gorbachev to speak. And the main thing is not to give the Union deputies the opportunity now to give the coup a constitutional character.
15.12. ARKADY VOLSKY SPEAKED TO MIKHAIL GORBACHEV ON THE PHONE
MOSCOW /RIA/. The Chairman of the Scientific and Industrial Union (SIP) and one of the initiators of the Movement for Democratic Reforms, Arkady Volsky, spoke on the phone on August 21 with USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev, who was removed from power on the night of August 19 by conspirators and placed under arrest at his dacha in Crimea. Sources in the NPS reported that the President’s health is good, but refused to give more detailed information before Volsky’s press conference.
15.15. KRAVCHUK WARNES LUKYANOV AGAINST INTRODUCING A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN UKRAINE
Kyiv /RIA/. The head of the Ukrainian parliament Leonid Kravchuk spoke on the phone on August 21 with the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR Anatoly Lukyanov. He warned that if a state of emergency is introduced on the territory of Ukraine, actions of mass disobedience on the part of the population of the republic are possible. Kravchuk said that he would not call on people not to participate in them.
15.20. KALININ PLANT DEMANDS THE DISMISSAL OF ITS GENERAL DIRECTOR, MEMBER OF THE GKCHP ALEXANDER TIZYAKOV
SVERDLOVSK /RIA/. An emergency session of the regional council on August 21 supported the appeal of the leaders of the RSFSR to the citizens of Russia and announced the introduction of a pre-strike situation in the region. The workforce of the Kalinin Plant production association was asked to evaluate the direct participation in the coup d'état of the State Emergency Committee member, General Director of the Production Association Alexander Tizyakov.
At a workshop meeting, the staff of the 204th workshop of the Kalinin Plant adopted an appeal to the factory workers to immediately begin the transition of the association to the jurisdiction of Russia. The appeal contains a demand to remove General Director Tizyakov from work and bring him to justice for participation in the coup d'etat. The appeal was supported at a plant-wide meeting. A strike committee was created and a decision was made to go on strike.
15.24. THE UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENTARY OPPOSITION DEMANDS THE CONVENING OF AN EXTRAORDINARY SESSION OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE REPUBLIC
Kyiv /RIA/. On the morning of August 21, a group of deputies of the Ukrainian parliament "People's Rada" met with the Chairman of the Supreme Council of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk and demanded that he convene an extraordinary session of parliament. A protest was expressed against the illegal arrest of USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev on the territory of the republic and the Sevastopol unit of the KGB of the Ukrainian SSR.
15.39. STATEMENT OF THE SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL UNION OF THE USSR
MOSCOW /RIA/. On August 21, the Scientific-Industrial Union of the USSR adopted a Statement demanding the convening of an emergency Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR and Mikhail Gorbachev speaking at it. The statement was signed by the heads of industrial unions, associations, associations, banks, joint ventures, rental and cooperative enterprises. They noted the negative consequences of the attempted coup for the country's economy, democracy and law and order.
15.42. PROTEST OF THE COMMISSIONS OF THE SUPREMEDIATE OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA AGAINST THE ARREST OF GDLYAN
YEREVAN /RIA/. The Commission on Legal Affairs and on Human Rights and Nationalities of the Armenian Armed Forces appealed to the Chairman of the USSR Armed Forces and the Prosecutor General of the USSR demanding the release of Telman Gdlyan, who had been arrested earlier. The commissions of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Armenia, expressing their concern about the fate of Deputy Gdlyan, condemn such illegal actions and emphasize their incompatibility with the international obligations of the USSR in the field of legality and human rights.
15.44. RADIO RUSSIA IS ON THE AIR AGAIN
MOSCOW /RIA/. Today at 14.30 Radio Russia resumed its work from the studio on Yamskoye Pole. Transmissions are carried out on medium waves in the range of 1,100 m or 261 kHz.
15.52. THERE ARE WOUNDED IN MOSCOW HOSPITALS
MOSCOW /RIA/. The doctor on duty at the Pirogov Clinical Hospital told RIA that on the night of August 21, a wounded 51-year-old man was brought to them from Smolenskaya Square. As the doctor stated, “the nature of the wounds in the chest, abdomen and limbs suggests that they were caused by blank machine gun shots at close range.”
From the intersection of the Garden Ring and New Arbat, a 32-year-old man was admitted to the 15th Clinical Hospital at 1 am with gunshot wounds to the shoulder, this time with live ammunition. The shots were fired from an infantry fighting vehicle, and the victim did not see what weapon was used to shoot him.
16.14. MEMBERS OF THE GKCHP ARRESTED, YAZOV SHOT SHOT
MOSCOW /RIA/. According to unconfirmed information received by RIA, seven members of the State Committee for the State of Emergency in the USSR, who seized power in the country on the night of August 19, were arrested. From the same information sources it is reported that the USSR Minister of Defense Dmitry Yazov committed suicide. The Chief of the General Staff of the USSR Armed Forces assumed the duties of Minister of Defense. It is expected that in the near future he will come to the Supreme Council of the RSFSR for negotiations.
16.41. SITUATION IN RUSSIAN CITIES
MOSCOW /RIA/.
RIA correspondents report:
KRASNODAR. All regional media outlets are published without restrictions. Two regional newspapers - "Sovetskaya Kuban" and "Kuban News" in recent days have published official materials of the State Emergency Committee, and the youth newspaper "Komsomolets Kuban" - documents of the President and government of the RSFSR.
VLADIVOSTOK. 40 tanks are stationed in the resort area 30 kilometers near Vladivostok. On August 21, a rally in support of Yeltsin was held in the central square. A group of deputies of the Primorsky Regional Council announced the creation of a Coordination Committee of the strike movement, but called on labor collectives not to stop production until further notice from the Russian leadership. At the rally, citizens began registering for the Russian National Guard.
SVERDLOVSK. On August 21, work was stopped at the North Ural bauxite mine and the city of Berezovsky. In Sverdlovsk, Uralmash, the Avtomatika NPO, the Novator experimental design bureau, and the rubber products plant are on strike.
KEMEROVO. An extraordinary session of the regional Council of People's Deputies began its work here. Chairman of the Council Aman Tuleyev confirmed that Russian laws continue to apply in the Kemerovo region. All newspapers are published, television and radio stations operate. According to the regional council, 15 mines and 2 mine-boring departments stopped working. According to the regional council of workers' committees, 40 collectives have already joined the political strike.
VOLGOGRAD. The chairman of the executive committee of the regional council, Ivan Shabunin, stated that in the event of the forcible removal of legitimate bodies of Soviet power from performing their duties, an extreme means of struggle could be used - a general strike. At the same time, at a meeting of heads of large enterprises in the city, the call for a strike was rejected, although the meeting participants declared their support for the Russian leadership. Speaking on television, a representative of the Internal Affairs Directorate of the Volgograd Regional Executive Committee said that police personnel will act in accordance with the orders and instructions of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
KHABAROVSK. A telegram to the Supreme Soviets of the USSR and the RSFSR demanding the immediate arrest of members of the State Emergency Committee and bringing them to trial was sent by participants in a rally of many thousands that took place here. The Presidium of the Khabarovsk Regional Council announced that it would not comply with the orders of the State Emergency Committee.
MOSCOW. The Presidium of the Council of the General Confederation of Trade Unions /VKP/ of the USSR in its statement demanded that Mikhail Gorbachev address the people on Central Television. The leadership of the All-Union Communist Party, considering any use of force against the civilian population unacceptable, spoke in favor of holding a session of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR as soon as possible.
YAKUTSK /PF/. Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Yakut-Sakha SSR Mikhail Nikolaev announced the commitment of the leadership of the republic to the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Republic. The leadership of the republic believes that there are no grounds for creating emergency committees and other bodies of the State Emergency Committee in Yakutia. “We declare,” Nikolaev said, “that on the territory of the Yakut-Sakha SSR there are bodies of Soviet power legally elected by the people.” He called on the residents of the republic to remain calm and self-controlled. (Rossiyskaya Gazeta, August 23.)
ULAN-UDE /PF/. At a meeting of the leaders of Buryatia in the evening, in the presence of journalists, a decision was made to support the State Emergency Committee and to create a commission on a state of emergency in the republic. Prime Minister V. Saganov also recommended that the police “culturally,” in his words, clear the Square of the Soviets of protesters. Information about the meeting was reported to local newspapers. However, the broadcast of a session of the Supreme Council of the RSFSR on TV forced a sharp change in plans. According to Pravda Buryatiya reporter Andrei Butyugov, who was present at the meeting, at night the type was scattered in the printing house and the originals were destroyed. The Republic of Buryatia greeted the morning with unanimous approval of democracy. (Rossiyskaya Gazeta, August 23.)
KEMEROVO /PF/. In the evening, a group of 30 people's militia flew from the mining town of Mezhdurechensk to Moscow. The residents of Mezhdurechensk went to guard the Supreme Council of the RSFSR.
16.56. State Emergency Committee Moved to Crimea
MOSCOW /RIA/. As Ruslan Khasbulatov stated at an emergency session of the Russian parliament, the plane with members of the so-called State Committee for the State of Emergency in the USSR, who attempted a coup on the night of August 18-19, landed at Simferopol airport. According to him, the plane with Silaev, Bakatin, Primakov and Rutsky is still in the air on its way to Crimea. The information previously transmitted to RIA about Yazov’s suicide has not been confirmed. As RIA reported, Yazov, Pugo and two or three more members of the State Emergency Committee flew on the first plane to Crimea.
The House of Soviets of the RSFSR confirms information about the expected meeting on Wednesday evening between the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the USSR and the President of the RSFSR Boris Yeltsin.
At a meeting of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on August 21, a decision was made to recognize the coup as unconstitutional.
17.07. RADIO STATION "ECHO OF MOSCOW" IS ON AIR AGAIN
MOSCOW /RIA/. On August 21, from 15.30 Moscow time, the Ekho Moskvy radio station is back on air, EM deputy editor-in-chief Sergei Fonton told an RIA correspondent.
17.12. VTsIOM: PEOPLE CONDEMN THE COUP
MOSCOW /RIA/. On August 20, the All-Union Center for the Study of Public Opinion (VTsIOM) conducted a survey of the population in different regions of the country in connection with the political situation in the USSR. In the whole country, the activities of the State Emergency Committee were supported by 20% of 4,567 respondents, 62% considered it illegal. In Russia and Kazakhstan, the survey results are 23% and 57%, respectively; in Ukraine - 14% are for the State Emergency Committee, 72% are against. The coming to power of the State Emergency Committee will lead to an improvement in the economic situation in the country - this was the opinion of 18% of respondents, 50% were of the opposite opinion. In Ukraine, 59% of respondents expressed a pessimistic view on this issue, in Russia - 47%, in Kazakhstan - 35%. 60% of respondents expected mass repressions from the State Emergency Committee, 22% did not expect this.
17.36. AN EXTRAORDINARY SESSION OF THE MOSCOW COUNCIL WILL OPEN ON AUGUST 22
MOSCOW /RIA/. On August 22, at 10 a.m., an emergency session of the Moscow City Council will open with the agenda “On the political situation in Moscow,” Andrei Bondarenko, an employee of the Moscow City Council press center, told a RIA correspondent. Invitations have already been sent to the city mayor Gavriil Popov, the Prime Minister of the Moscow government Yuri Luzhkov, the leadership of the Central Internal Affairs Directorate and the KGB, as well as the Moscow city prosecutor and Moscow deputies of all ranks.
17.45. VTsIOM: Muscovites and Yerevan residents consider the State Emergency Committee to be ILLEGAL
MOSCOW /RIA/. 73% of 1,792 Muscovites and 94% of 155 Yerevan residents surveyed on August 20 by the All-Union Center for the Study of Public Opinion (VTsIOM) consider the activities of the State Emergency Committee to be illegal. The opposite opinion is held by 13% of Muscovites and 1% of Yerevan residents. 72% of Muscovites and 92% of Yerevan residents expect mass repressions as a result of the State Emergency Committee coming to power.
TOGLYATTI /PF/. The press centers of the regional Councils of People's Deputies of the city of Togliatti are distributing an appeal from the Volga-Ural Military District to Russian citizens, signed “Officers True to the Oath.” It regards the events that took place on August 19 as a usurpation of power. The appeal calls on Russian officers not to use weapons against the people, to remain faithful to the oath, to Russia and to President Yeltsin.
17.53. MEMBERS OF THE GKChP ARE AT GORBACHEV'S DACHA IN THE CRIMEA
MOSCOW /RIA/. As RIA learned from sources in the parliament of Kazakhstan, the President of this republic, Nursultan Nazarbayev, spoke on the phone this evening with the President of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev. He informed him that he continued to be under the protection of thirty KGB officers, but contact with him had been restored. The organizers of the coup are at the dacha in Foros and are seeking an audience with the President. Nazarbayev asked Gorbachev not to negotiate with the putschists under any circumstances and to wait for the delegation from Moscow, which included Russian leaders Ivan Silaev, Alexander Rutskoi, members of the Security Council Vadim Bakatin and Yevgeny Primakov.
Second Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee Vladimir Ivashko and the head of the Union Parliament Anatoly Lukyanov have already flown to Crimea and should arrive at Gorbachev’s residence in the near future.