1939. Constantine Kobets was born

75 years ago, on July 16, 1939, Army General Konstantin Ivanovich Kobets, Minister of Defense of Russia in 1991 and the head of the White House defense in the days of the August Putch was born. He was appointed on his post on August 20, becoming the first Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation. But on September 9, the position was abolished.

Subsequently, Kobets was the chief military inspector of the Armed Forces and state secretary - Deputy Minister of Defense. In October 1993, he participated in the assault on the White House.

In May 1997, Kobets was removed from his post, dismissed from the armed forces and arrested on charges of receiving a bribe and illegal storage of weapons. Before the arrest, the general was often called one of the most likely candidates for the post of Minister of Defense. In conclusion, he suffered a heart attack. In 1998, the general pleaded guilty and was released from custody on a recognizance not to leave. In 2000, his case was discontinued according to an amnesty, after which Kobets announced the invalidity of his premise of his guilt previously.

Kobets died on December 30, 2012.