1991 The beginning of the coup in the USSR

25 years ago, on August 19, 1991, a group of Soviet leaders led by Vice President Gennady Yanaev announced that President Mikhail Gorbachev was ill and temporarily unable to perform his duties. Therefore, a State Committee for the State of Emergency is being created, and "in certain areas of the USSR" a state of emergency is introduced for a period of six months.

In fact, the state of emergency was introduced only in Moscow. This meant a ban on rallies, demonstrations and strikes, the suspension of the activities of political parties, public organizations and mass movements "obstructing the normalization of the situation." Troops were sent to the capital. However, the putschists failed to arrest Russian President Boris Yeltsin and prevent his arrival at the White House, which largely predetermined the failure of the coup.

Press conference of the State Emergency Committee on August 19, 1991: