Russia marks coup's 10th anniversary

Boris Yeltsin (left) judged the popular mood perfectly

It is 10 years since the coup attempt which precipitated the collapse of the Soviet Union.

On 19 August 1991, hard-line communists in Moscow tried to halt then Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev's reform plans.

We don't accept your gang of bandits

Boris Yeltsin, in phone call to coup leader

Although the coup collapsed in less than three days, it set in train the break-up of the Soviet Union and Mr Gorbachev's fall from power.

Among the planned anniversary commemorations, the biggest is expected outside the Russian White House, where former President Boris Yeltsin famously climbed aboard a tank to denounce the coup and call for popular backing.

Decisive moment

The day of the coup was to lead to dramatic changes for people's lives throughout the 15 republics of the USSR.

For Mr Yeltsin, then president of the Russian Federation, it marked a decisive moment in his eventual eclipsing of Mr Gorbachev as the country's most powerful leader.

Where are the coup leaders now?

Gennady Yanayev Pension fund consultant

Dmitry Yazov Adviser to arms exporter

Vladimir Kryuchkov Wrote his memoirs

Valentin Pavlov Became a banker

Boris Pugo Committed suicide after coup failed

A different kind of rally is expected to be held in Pushkin Square - to honour the coup's leaders. Granted amnesties in 1994 after brief jail terms, they have returned to public life.

The leaders included Gennady Yanayev, then Vice-President of the USSR, the then Prime Minister Valentin Pavlov, Defence Minister Dmitry Yazov, Interior Minster Boris Pugo and the head of the KGB, Vladimir Kryuchkov.

Mr Gorbachev, who had been about to sign an agreement giving the Soviet republics more autonomy, was held under house arrest while the world was told he was ill.

Misjudgement

The coup leaders thought Mr Gorbachev's agreement, as well as his policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (reform) would lead to the break-up of the Soviet Union.

But they misjudged the popular mood, especially among younger people keen for continued change.

Although the coup failed, Gorbachev's power waned

Mr Yeltsin, standing on a tank sent to silence resistance, judged that mood perfectly.

After three days of uncertainty, the coup collapsed in farce. Its leaders raced down to the Crimea to try to make their peace with Mr Gorbachev.

But when he returned to Moscow, the Soviet leader failed to appreciate how much had changed.

Humiliation

After declaring his continuing support for the Communist Party, he was publicly humiliated by Mr Yeltsin. Soviet institutions were closed, and Mr Gorbachev's power began to evaporate.

In December, after signing the agreement which formed the Commonwealth of Independent States, Mr Gorbachev bowed to the inevitable.

Condoleezza Rice, a Russia expert and now White House national security adviser, said: "It was rather sad actually to see Gorbachev come back, almost seemingly unaware of what had happened. By the time of the end of the coup, Boris Yeltsin was the political authority in Russia and it was only a matter of time until Gorbachev had to step aside".

It took four months, but the events of August 1991 led directly to the collapse of the USSR.