✦ History

1991 Soviet coup attempt

August 19–21, 1991 · Moscow

Contemporaries On the map Overview

Failed attempt by Communist hardliners to remove Mikhail Gorbachev and stop the new Union Treaty; Boris Yeltsin led the resistance in Moscow, and the coup sped up the end of the Soviet Union.

Key people

Mikhail Gorbachev President of the Soviet Union, held at Foros Gennady Yanayev Vice President, head of the coup committee Boris Yeltsin President of Russia, led the resistance

Participants

Battles and events 1