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The Collapse of Stalinism

Part one

TASS announces that Gennady Yanayev, vice-president, has taken over "due to Gorbachev's inability to perform his duties for health reasons".

Moscow Radio reports: "A fatal danger is hanging over the Soviet Union, the country has become ungovernable".

Tanks start up 50km south of Moscow.

TASS announces that a State of Emergency has been imposed in some areas of the Soviet Union for six months "to avert society's slide towards a national catastrophe."

All power is transferred to an 8-man State Committee for the State of Emergency in the USSR.

Tokyo - NIKKEI average plummets by 1,357 points.

Yeltsin's spokesperson says they believe a coup is in progress.

A column of armoured personnel carriers moves to the Kremlin.

Yeltsin issues a statement from his HQ in the Russian Parliament (White House) denouncing the coup and calling for a general strike.

The Emergency Committee announces a clampdown on the press and the banning of demonstrations. It says it will take all powers to prevent fratricide and civil war".

12 tanks arrive outside the White House. A larger column is on its way to the Kremlin.

Demonstrators waving the Russian flag block tanks arriving at the Kremlin.

Yeltsin climbs onto a tank and shouts to supporters: "Wherever my appeal for a strike is heard, people back it."

He says Gorbachev is detained in his holiday hone in the Crimea.

Tanks surround the TASS offices. The FTSE 100 share index falls by 125.3 points.

A senior Soviet military official says the armed forces will "carry out the will of the new legal government".

Yanayev declares at a press conference that Gorbachev is "resting". He says: "Over these years he has got very tired and needs some time to get his health back.

Yanayev says the Committee is committed to continuing the reforms.

Buses are dragged across the streets by demonstrators and barricades are set up to stop the tanks reaching the White House. Demonstrators argue with the troops.

Yeltsin orders all KGB and army units supporting Yanayev to stand down. He declares that he is assuming control of all Soviet institutions on Russian soil. Yanayev orders a State of Emergency in Moscow.

Ukrainian leader, Kravchuk, calls for calm and urges workers not to follow Yeltsin's strike call.

Troops occupy the telephone exchange in Lithuania. Landsbergis proclaims "passive resistance".

Russian miners begin walking out of work

10 tanks of the elite Taman Division go to the White House to defend it from the coup leaders.

News of the first casualty: a minibus driver is killed by troops in Riga. A strike is declared in Latvia.

Moscow is calm. The new military commander of Moscow says there is no need for a curfew.

Half of the Siberian Kuzbass mines (26) stop work. The Tyumen oilfield workers declare their support against the coup but they say they won't strike for fear of provoking civil war.

5 out of the 13 Vorkuta mines are on strike - the others "are nearly paralyzed by absenteeism." Miners strike in Ukraine and Byelorussia.

A crowd of over 200,000 defies the ban and gathers outside the White House.

Tens of thousands gather in Leningrad (estimated 100,000). Over 20 Leningrad factories have stopped work.

50,000 demonstrate in Kishinev, capital of Moldova, and barricades are set up blocking all entrances to the city.

Yeltsin speaks to the crowd: "We will hold out here as long as we have to, to remove this junta from power and bring it to justice".

Messages of support are read out from the industrial centres of Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk, Kemerovo and Khabarovsk.

Shevardnaze appears and speaks to the crowd.

Rumours in Moscow that Gorbachev may be flown in within the next 24 hours.

Tens of thousands rally in the capital of Moldova. Its president declares the Emergency Committee's actions to be "illegal and illegitimate."

Ukrainian deputies vote that the Emergency Committee's actions are illegal and illegitimate also.

Estonian foreign minister says they will declare independence. Over 400,000 Estonian workers stage a 2-hour general strike.

Many enterprises and most public transport in Tallinn stop work.

Thousands gather in Moscow against the threat of a tank assault.

Reports come through that two of the Emergency Committee members are ill. Yazov is said to have resigned due to an unspecified illness. Pavlov is reported to be suffering from high blood pressure and he is confined to bed.

Yeltsin's aide appeals to the KGB chief for no bloodshed. Kryuchkov replies: "You can sleep soundly".

Estonia declares independence.

Soviet soldiers occupy radio and TV stations in Lithuanian towns.

A human chain, ten thick, surrounds the White House.

Tanks attempt to breach the White House blockades. Protesters swarm over them. Petrol bombs are thrown. Two tanks are set alight.

Tank commanders fire into the air. Three die in crush.

Soviet paratroopers seize Estonian TV.

Paratroopers seize Moscow Echo, an independent radio station.

Yeltsin says that KGB chief, Kryuchkov, offered him the chance to see Gorbachev. He refused. Rumours increase of KGB and army defections to Yeltsin.

Yeltsin tells the Russian Parliament that the 8-man Committee are attempting to flee Moscow. Crowds cheer outside.

TASS reports the Soviet Ministry of Defence has ordered all troops to withdraw from Moscow.

A Russian Parliament member says two aircraft with hard-line leaders have left for the Crimea.

Tanks and armoured cars start to leave Moscow.

TASS reports all press restrictions of the "former" Emergency Committee have been lifted.

The Chair of the Soviet Defence Committee announces that the Emergency Committee has been disbanded and Yazov and Kryuchkov are flying to Crimea to meet Gorbachev: "The Committee no longer exists. The members are on their way down to apologise to Gorbachev or whatever they have to do."

The Latvian Parliament declares independence.

TASS reports that a criminal investigation into the Emergency Committee has been opened.

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