Notes+on+Collapse+of+the+Soviet+Union

Notes on The Collapse of the Soviet Union: 1985-1991 by David Marples

Preface:

The debates:

 Gorbachev and his relative success or failure

 The roots of the August 1991 putsch

 The role of the national republics

 The relative significance of economic crisis

 The role of main adversary (United States) in downfall of Communist regimes in Eastern Europe

Admitted Biases:

 The national question of key significance

 Arms buildup overrated as factors in dissolution of Soviet state

 The role of personalities of great significance

 Misconceptions of political alliances and intrigue play critical role

Introduction:

 Soviet leaders incensed when Reagan termed the USSR an "evil empire"

o Soviet media had for decades venerated ageing leaders and condition of state and economics

 Things to consider when thinking about cause of the collapse: "the ending of the Cold War; an economic crisis and virtual collapse; the rise of the national republics, which were making more and more demands on the centre, and in some cases lapsing into ethnic conflicts that predated Soviet power; and political in-fighting within leadership"

 Gorbachev: misconstrued as a "liberal" interested in reforming tyranny of State

o He was neither to the right or the left of Soviet political spectrum

o "Adhered to the principles laid down for the Bolshevik Party by Lenin"

o Man of his time who tried a system through perestroika (restructuring) and glasnost (honesty and self-criticism)

o Marples' view: “he failed; honorably perhaps, but catastrophically”

 Why did Soviet Union collapse?

o The republics suffering economic crisis more so than Russia

o The rise of nationalism among republics

o "Gorbachev, it seems, did not have a national policy"

o Mass flight of republics toward independence

o Yeltsin’s populism

• Variety of causes

Ch. 1: Gorbachev Comes to Power

 Brezhnev era:

o Gorbachev a rising young star in the 70’s: a member of the CC, an agricultural expert, member of the Politburo by 1980

o Food Program

o Soviet troops enter Afghanistan in 1979, install Babrak Karmal in Kabul

o Politburo ageing, privileged and corrupt with Brezhnev leading the pack

 Brezhnev dies in 1982, Andropov 1984, Chernenko 1985

 In 1st year (1985) of Gorbachev leadership, 70% of ministers changed; 50% of leadership cadres in Republics; 40% of first secretaries; 60% of CC – New blood?

 Foreign Minister Gromyko replaced by Shevardnadze a supporter of détente

 Gorbachev outspoken about political and economic problems in USSR

 Program: Break with the Brezhnev past (27th Party Congress); acceleration of the economy, an end to parochialism, nepotism, corruption and a ruling elite that appeared to be distanced from the general population

 End of "Epoch of Stagnation" (Brezhnev era) and democratize Soviet society

 Perestroika – Leninist economic, political, and societal restructuring

 Military changes: Yazov becomes minister of Defense (later betrays Gorby)

 Summer 1987 Plenum of CC, Boris Yeltsin removed from Politburo (mistake)

 19th Party Conference in Moscow, Gorbachev meets resistance from party

o Focus on reforms: Glasnost and Perestroika, legal structure

o Democratizing People’s Deputies Congress (non-party members)

 Brezhnev “old guard” effectively purged

 Glasnost: a policy of frankness, development of overt political opinion

o Gorbachev's media blitz; unprecedented off-the-cuff remarks

o Sahkarov (scientist) allowed to return to Moscow

o Further de-Stalinization; rehabilitation of Right Opposition etc.

o Admission of Katyn massacre

o By 1990 media restricted from practicing Glasnost

o Glasnost waking population to realities of Soviet life

 Chernobyl (nuclear power plant) disaster of 1986

o Inexperience, human error, equipment failure

o Health hazards downplayed; extent of disaster withheld

o Radioactive fallout about 25 mile zone

o Credibility of Government weakened by Chernobyl response

o Industrial and nuclear developed halted

Ch. 2: Perestroika (Restructuring) in Action

The Economy: Gorbachev not an expert, unwilling to delegate to experts

 Acceleration of reform and anti-alcohol campaigns: reform and assessment

o Link between alcoholism and poor productivity and health problems

o Experiments to raise control of industrial enterprises

o Local enterprises encouraged to export and to form co-ops

o Wage differentials introduced and accelerated

o Attempts to control labor costs which were high

 CC Plenum June 1987: Law about State Enterprise

o Allow state enterprises more independence including failure

o Reduction of state subsidies and introduce banking reforms

o Massive layoffs inevitable

 The Coal Miner's Strike July 1989

o General dissatisfaction among workers amidst rising production and income and an increase in crime – strange details

o Coal Miner Strike at Kuzbass spreads (180,000 strikers)

o Gorbachev promises economic and working condition improvements

o Steel worker unrest foretells an anti-Soviet political activism

 Economic Reform Programs: Gorbachev v. Yeltsin

o Gorbachev's economic advisors: Transition to market economy

o Party aware of high core inflation due to economic reforms

o Recession due to national budget shortfalls, abandoned projects, decreasing productivity and sudden increase in average wages

o Boris Yeltsin, chair of Russian Supreme Soviet, Government of Russian

o Federation introduces 500 Days program

• Meant to undermine Gorbachev's Union program

• 1st 100 day: strict fiscal regulation and monetarism

• 2nd 250 day: free up prices and limitations

• 3rd 400 day: market stability, break monopolies

• 4th 500 day: removal of state control, privatization, markets

• Budget deficit to be wiped by fire sale of public assets

• Taxing and foreign investment devolve to republics

o Gorbachev attempts to merge plans

o Yeltsin goes public, wants parliamentary vote, calls for Ryzhkov (PM) to resign – one step ahead of Gorbachev who surprisingly endorses 500 Days

o Russian Congress vote for 500 Days plan

o In the end Gorbachev rejects plan and his PM; introduces revised plan

 "The combination of politics and economic reform proved to be a lethal concoction that ultimately would play a key part in the demise of the Union state" (32). – Struggle between the center (Union) and the periphery (Republics)

 Stagnation: Economic Stagnation and Labor Unrest

o 1991 – troubling decline in industrial and oil production

o GNP rate drops, income average drops

o Massive strikes among coal miners, affects food supply

o Pavlov replaces Ryzhkov as PM – disastrous first steps

• Currency reforms and freezing savings accounts fail

o Lack of experience for sudden market reform

o Spring 1991: "Several republics began to withhold revenue from the central budget, giving credibility to declaration of state sovereignty that had been issued in the previous summer" (35).

• Three Baltic States, Ukraine, Georgia, Moldavia, Russia

• Severe National budget deficit!!!

• Numbers plummeting: GNP, industry, oil, exports, imports, agriculture, livestock, labor productivity, national income

 The Pavlov Program: An attempt to restore power to the center

o 50 million workers strike for an hour on April 2, 1991 over rising prices and falling quality of living standards

o Gorbachev, Pavlov and 11 republic meet w/out Baltic States and Georgia

o Pavlov's new plan: limit privatization; state control over prices, supplies and output; one-year ban on strikes and protests during working hours

o Gorbachev signs "stabilization measures" with 9 Union republics

o Yeltsin interprets Gorbachev's signature as recognition of republics as sovereign states – making public political statements and moves; promises to weaken Com. Party within Russian Federation state enterprises

• Transfers Kuzbass mine from Union to Federation

• Gorbachev concedes such reforms to Yeltsin

o Gorbachev approaches Western Governments for help

o Economic crisis and political rift: wait until Yeltsin is Federation head

o "The Gorbachev regime lacked resolution and proved unable to settle on a viable economic program, swayed by the opposition of the USSR Supreme Soviet on the one hand, while being understandably reluctant to concede economic power to the republics on the other" (38).

Foreign Policy: The Emergence of Gorbachev as Peace-maker

 Ideology and Propaganda

o Ronald Reagan's "evil empire" speech and Star Wars program (SDI)

o Gorbachev: initiated leadership summits, unilateral reduction of troops and weapons systems, dynamic and friendly personality, friendship

• Time's "Man of the Decade"? Propagandistic?

o Before Chernobyl: dedicated Leninist and Soviet Communist, renewed Warsaw Pact, supported Sandinistas, demanded ban on militarized space

o After Chernobyl: wants nuclear weapons eliminated (no commitment from U.S.), proposed bilateral removal of medium range missiles in Europe

 Arms Control

"The main distinction between Gorbachev and Soviet administrations of the past was the new leader’s approachability and apparent flexibility" (40).

o Gorbachev, frustrated with Americans on testing of nukes, uses Chernobyl to support his campaigns on test ban on weapons and thaw in relations

o Reagan and Gorbachev establish a rapport after 1986 Iceland summit

o Gorbachev visits Washington in 1987; a success

o With war in Afghanistan a major drain on resources, Gorbachev announces drawdown of forces in July 1986; Soviets leave Feb. '89

• Removed an obstacle in US-USSR relations

• Period of "Gorbymania" in the West

o Gorbachev according to McNeill: recognized capitalism not likely to collapse; healthy economy more important than strong military for a world power; massive military build-up under Brezhnev achieved very little

 Architects of Soviet Foreign Policy

o Appointment of Eduard Shevardnadze crucial to Gorbachev’s U.S. policy

o Aleksander Yakovlev important supporter of new Détente

o Gorbachev ultimately master of Soviet foreign policy

o 1988-89 high points: START, human rights, Germany and Poland

o UN speech: reduction of Soviet forces to 500,000 troops

o Gorbachev more popular abroad than at home

 Eastern Europe: Rejection of Brezhnev Doctrine

o Tolerance in Moscow yielded change in Eastern Europe

o Berlin Wall falls in November 1989; Bulgaria too

o Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Poland (Solidarity)

o Pope John Paul II meets Gorbachev December 1989

o New United Germany: a member of NATO?

• Gorbachev could do little about it

o Warsaw Pact collapses; Hungary leaves first, others follow (91)

• Demand Soviet troops be removed

 Ending the Cold War

o 2nd Summit with George Bush May/June 1990

• Chemical, strategic weapons, Lithuania and Germany

o Bush comes to Moscow in July 1990 – START Treaty

• Bush meets with new President Yeltsin privately

• Growing power of Yeltsin and the RSFSR (Federation)

o Marples challenges the arms question: Gorbachev’s foreign policy, rapprochement with West, rejection of Brezhnev Doctrine, tolerance of movements in Eastern Europe, domestic problems

 Two overriding issues

o The ruling structure of the USSR

o The nationalities question (What to do with the republics?)

Ch. 3: The National Question

 The Submerged Dilemma

 Nationalities of Soviet Union in late 1922: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Transcaucasian republics – Lenin's compromise

 Stalin reverses development of national elites by centralization and purges

o By 1939, Soviet Union expanded from 4 to 12 republics

• Crossing tribal boundaries, large minority groups

o Nazi-Soviet Pact: Installation of Soviet bases in Baltic states, annexed Baltic states (Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia); republics number 15 after War

o United States never recognizes Baltic states as Soviet republics

 The "Soviet Man" in Brezhnev era vs. indigenous populations/nationalities

o Russian language the "1st language"

o Ethnic Russians migrating over time into republics

 Gorbachev from Caucasus region; expected to deal with nationalities question

 Trouble in December 1986 in Kazakhistan over local resentment due to Russian immigration into republic and replacement of First Party Sec.

Nagorno-Karabakh: Civil War, Violence and Intolerance

 Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh oblast and part of Azerbaijan demand to be included in Armenian SSR; some Armenians massacred by Azeris

 Union fails to mediate between the two; ethnic conflict spilling over borders

 Moscow could not control the nationalist movements emerging

The Baltic States: Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia push for National Rights

 On the 48th anniversary of the 1939 Nazi-Soviet Pact demonstrations break out in all three states; Popular Front movement in Estonia and Latvia

 Estonia the first to test Perestroika: language and national rights

 Baltic Assembly of the three states in Tallinn 1989

o Discussed united economic action and possible political sovereignty

 Moscow focuses on Lithuania, the largest of the three; split in Party there

 Article 6 of Soviet Constitution removed from Lithuanian and Latvian charters

 Emergence of Sajudis party in Lithuania

 Lithuania declares independence March 1990 before Congress of People’s Deputies convened in Moscow; a fait accompli; Western implications (US)

 Moscow rejected Lithuanian declaration; tense standoff lasts for months

 Estonia convenes a separate parliament; revoked 1940 annexation

 "No doubt the Baltic separatists had been encouraged by the lack of reaction in Moscow to the downfall of Communist regimes in Eastern Europe [Poland and East Germany] in 1989." Moscow losing grip

 Soviet troops move into Lithuania in 1991

 Committee of National Salvation formed: alternative to Lithuanian parliament

o CNS officials attacked and bullied

 13 Lithuanians killed in media takeover; local commander blamed

 Yelsin challenges Moscow leadership; criticizes handling of Lithuania; recognizes sovereignty of Baltic states; declared attack “an offense against democracy”

 Gorbachev’s forceful actions failed

 Baltic states overwhelmingly vote to sever ties to USSR; independence

 Summer of 1990: copy-cat popular movements across the Soviet Union

 Perestroika led Baltic states to claim former status before Nazi-Soviet Pact

Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus

 Georgia: April 1989 Soviet troops attack a peaceful protest; 20 dead

 99% of Georgians support independence in a referendum

 Election of Zviad Gamsakhurdia in first democratic election of republics

 Moscow supporting South Ossetian breakaway; civil conflict

o Soviet Union could do little about Georgian independence

 Ukraine: 2nd largest of the Soviet republics with strong Communist Party

 After Chernobyl, Green World and Popular Movement in Support of Perestroika (Rukh) emerging as action groups in support of reforms; Rukh challenges CPU

 July 1991 Ukraine declares state sovereignty and official language

 Belarus: popular discontent evident by 1990; anger at corrupt leadership

 Belarusian Popular Front (BPF) head Belarusian movement

o Massive strike movement in April 1991

 In other republics, the Union’s weakness brings chaos and disintegration

The Plenum on National Policy, September 1989

 CPSU Central Committee Plenum to update national policy to meet new conditions – a review of the past, praises Lenin’s self-determination policy for nationalities and regions, affirms nationalities part in Great Patriotic War (WWII)

 How to improve Federation: expand rights of autonomous national formations, recognize equal rights of all peoples, allow development of languages and cultures of nationality groups

 Division of powers: Union center to provide essential political and economic development, security, defense and coordination of foreign policy

o Republics control remaining issues and choose form of governance

 Plenum debated Union Treaty (an obsession of Gorbachev)

o revert back to 1922 debate on nationalities

 Spirit of "socialist internationalism" and the younger generation

o in opposition of nationalism and chauvism

 Flexibility the key factor – no universal solution to national question

 Party secretaries of Belarus and Ukraine concerned with weak Center

o that national movements anti-party and anti-socialist

 Some party leaders wanted more autonomy for republics; self-interest, but are wary of national movements and responsibility for economies

 By the summer of 1990, however, "all the Union republics declared economic sovereignty, the control over their natural resources and the right to make decisions concerning their individual economic development" (63).

 Gorbachev could not restrain national movements after Baltics leave

 Ukraine by end of 1990 pushing for independence

 The overriding catalyst of independence movements: Russian Federation

o 1991 Boris Yeltsin new president of Russian Federation

Ch. 4: Domestic Politics, 1989 to Mid-August 1991

The Congress of People’s Deputies and New Presidency

 Resurrection of Boris Yeltsin's political career 1989

o popular in Moscow, elected to Congress of People’s Deputies

 Congress of People’s Deputies formed in 1988: 750 deputies, 1,500 districts

o Party reformers were most likely to win elections

 Gorbachev forced hard-liners out of CC, merged party secretaries with chairmen of regional governments, reducing Soviet bureaucracy and empowering Congress

 Congress to elect from its ranks a new Supreme Soviet; undermining Party and removing Perestroika opponents

 Sessions of Congress televised and heard on radio; unprecedented

 Gorbachev led sessions, but frustrated by Yeltsin and Sakharov

 Radical deputies (Yeltsin etc.) created Interregional Group (388)

o Objective: move from totalitarianism to democracy

 Democratic Russia Platform: remove Article 6 (Communist Party leading role), regulate market economy, and new Constitution

 200,000 people rally in support of Perestroika before CC Plenum

 CPSU formally relinquished monopoly of power on February 7, 1990

 Creation of Soviet presidency to replace Chairman of Supreme Soviet

 Powers of presidency explained on p. 68

 Gorbachev becomes President March 1990; Interregional group opposed

 Gorbachev created Presidential Council; more powerful than Politburo

 May 1990 Yeltsin won election for Chair of Supreme Soviet of RSFSR

28th Party Congress and Aftermath

 CPSU in total disarray in 1990; Gorbachev President of opposing body; members leaving; no clear idea of future role in society

 Gorbachev wins re-election for General Secretary

 Two powerful bodies: Presidential Council and Council of the Federation

 Three factions: Ligachev (preserve party power), Yeltsin, and Gorbachev

 Gorbachev reaction to criticism: collapse of Eastern Europe due to Stalinism, rejected Brezhnev Doctrine, emphasized United States as global partner

 Yeltsin resigns from Communist Party in televised event

 Shevardnadze also resigns, frustrated with Gorbachev, feared military coup

 Gorbachev then aligns with traditional Communists, increases his power

o Constitutional amendment establishing Cabinet of Ministers

 Why had Gobachev made a move that seemed to be at odds with Perestroika?

o "[I]t was necessary to increase power of the central administration vis-à-vis the republics. [And] the Soviet president was facing a power struggle with the Russian Federation" (71).

o But, it must be noted that Gorbachev made constitutional changes to USSR that minimized power of Congress of Deputies.

 March 7, 1991 Gorbachev makes yet another change, replacing Presidential Council with Security Council

 Deepening rift between RSFSR (led by Yeltsin) and USSR (led by Gorbachev)

 Russian republic government demanding shared power with Gorbachev and threatening to take control over nuclear weapons located in RSFSR

 Gorbachev (naively?) believed in compromise: an evolved structure of government with authority resting in center – defense, foreign policy, budget

 Yeltsin taking advantage of Gorbachev’s many structural changes

The Referendum of 17 March 1991

 Gorbachev proposes referendum: Do you consider it necessary to preserve the USSR as a renewed federation with equal rights in which the rights and freedoms of an individual of any nationality are fully guaranteed? March 17 1991

 February 1991: Yeltsin openly calls for Gorbachev to resign; implied dictatorship

 Huge Democratic Russia rally outside Kremlin February 22; 400,000 people

o Crowd very supportive of Boris Yeltsin; urged to vote No on referendum

 March 2 Consultative Council of the Democratic Congress (Moscow)

o 22 parties, movements in 11 republics (Democratic Russia, Rukh, etc.)

o Claimed to be working toward democracy and against totalitarianism

 Russians and Ukrainians see two questions on referendum: support for preservation of the Soviet Union and whether Ukraine should be part of the Union according to declared principles of state sovereignty; some regions of Ukraine see third question whether Ukraine should become fully independent state

 Armenia, Georgia, Moldavia, and the Baltic states do not participate

 March 8 news agency TASS publishes draft text of Union Treaty

o Refers to republics as "sovereign and equal states"

o Moscow to retain authority of defense and foreign policy

o Republics have right to secede from Union

o USSR acronym for a Union of Sovereign Equal States

 Yeltsin relentlessly in opposition of Gorbachev; offering slogans (sincere?)

 Criticism is then directed at Yeltsin's post as Russian President

 Majority of Soviet citizens vote in support of renewed USSR

 Confrontation on streets of Moscow; mass demonstration Yeltsin

 3 week ban on Yeltsin demonstrations enforced by KGB and police

 Democratic Russia permitted to rally on March 28; 100,000 Yeltsin supporters

 Yeltsin moves Russian Congress of People’s Deputies (RCPD) to defy ban

 Georgia votes for independence on March 31 1991

 1 + 9 Agreement meeting: Gorbachev demanded to resign both positions, survives vote, and forges agreement about autonomy of 9 republics and the 1 (USSR)

 Yeltsin calls for compromise with Gorbachev (a flexible political move)

o Gorbachev a useful power broker for Yeltsin

Toward A New Union Treaty

 Yeltsin wins election for Russian President June 1991; holds office in Moscow

 Russia appeared to have duel power structure; conflict inevitable

 Ten days after coming to power, Yeltsin decrees ban of political activity within state ministries; "a blatant grab for power" over Soviet institutions (78)

 USSR, CPSU Politburo, even the RSFSR Politburo claim decree violates Article 48 and 51 of the Soviet Constitution, as well as laws on public associations

 Yeltsin establishes relations with Lithuanians; each recognize sovereignty

 Yeltsin attempting to take over Russia at the same time making overtures of compromise with Gorbachev over Union reform

 Gorbachev works toward Union Treaty and now 9 + 1 Agreement

o Taxation an issue; republics want consultation on taxation

 Not all republics willing to sign Union Treaty, most notably Ukraine

 New Democratic Movement stands in opposition to CPSU

 Aleksandr Yakovlev (a former Gorbachev appointee and Glasnost pioneer) writes an article claiming that Gorbachev lost control of Communist Party and that a Stalinist coup was being planned

Ch. 5: The Putsch and the Collapse of the USSR

The Putsch, 18 – 21 August 1991

 A group of key CP members, security, and army officials confront Gorbachev at his dacha and demand that he sign a decree declaring a state emergency, and that he hand over power to Vice-President Yanayev; Gorbachev refuses

 State Committee on the State of Emergency declared by plotters; Gorbachev forced to step down; state emergency to last 6 months; protests banned

 Union Treaty renounced by Emergency Committee; restoration of order

 Glasnost media targeted; (Aug 19) tanks in key areas of Moscow

 Strangely enough, Yeltsin not arrested; main error of plotters

 In front of CNN cameras, Yeltsin climbs atop a tank and encourages a general strike over deposing of Gorbachev; issues presidential edict that putsch illegal

 Yeltsin also states that he was taking over territory of Russian republic

 Yanayev holds press conference same day assuring Gorbachev would return

 No popular support for plotters of putsch

 Aug 20 Yeltsin gains troop support, demands that chair of USSR Supreme Soviet dissolve Emergency Committee and removal of army from Moscow and Leningrad, wants meeting with Gorbachev with WHO there

 Presidential edict: Yeltsin declares control of Russian republic armed forces

 "Though [Yeltsin] invoked Gorbachev's name on every occasion, the Russian president had elevated Russian laws over Soviet ones...." (85).

 Emergency Committee unwilling to use force to ensure success of putsch

 From the outside, it appears that Yeltsin and Gorbachev working together

o In reality Yeltsin asserting Russian republic independence

 Showdown at Russian White House; Emergency Committee call back tanks

 Team of Russian Supreme Soviet members fly to Gorbachev's Crimean dacha

 Yeltsin announces presidential edict: all enterprises on Russian soil now republic

 Plotters of Emergency Committee arrested for treason

 Gorbachev praises Yeltsin's role in affair, but continues to support CPSU

 Aug 23 Gorbachev approves of Yeltsin’s decrees during putsch and accepts the equal power of the RSFSR government; Yeltsin's growing power in Moscow

 Aug 24 Gorbachev resigns from CPSU and calls for dissolution of the party

 The CPSU banned for participation in the failed putsch

 Sudden transition of the national republics to independence after failed putsch

o Ukraine, Belorus, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Moldavia etc.

o Ruling Communist parties no longer recognized by Yeltsin's Russia

 Gorbachev still clinging to Union Treaty; Yeltsin a wavering supporter

 International recognition of the Baltic states; Gorbachev annoyed

 Yeltsin continues hold on state enterprises in Russia; Finance, Foreign Trade

Administrative Changes

 Aug 29 Gorbachev introduces structural changes to remain in place during a transitional period until a new Union Treaty could be signed

 One problem: Yeltsin no longer willing to compromise

The Failure of the Union Treaty

 September 1 1991 Gorbachev announces 10 republics agreed to sign new Treaty

 Yeltsin's Russia continuing to take control of important resources on Russian territory: oil, gas, hydroelectric and nuclear power

 October Gorbachev circulates latest version of Union Treaty; treaty for an economic community; Yeltsin signs economic treaty and states that Russia would no longer contribute to central budget other than what was treaty bound

 Gorbachev's new Union Treaty being weakened by Yeltsin's political demands

Yeltsin Consolidates His Power

 Yelstin puts his name forward for Prime Minister of RCPD

 November 6 Yeltsin signs edict banning CPSU activities RCP from RSFSR

 He appointed himself new Prime Minister of Russia

 Yeltsin makes an agreement on collective security and defensive strategy with Ukrainian Prime Minister; and agreed to borders with Ukraine

 Yeltsin took control of Union Banks; rejected IMF and World Bank agreements; took control of gold and diamond industries; agreed to deal with Soviet debts

 Yeltsin also takes over Union budget – in shambles due to insufficient funds

 After December 1991 no need to cater to Soviet center or USSR president

The Belavezha Agreement

 December 1, Ukrainians go to polls to vote on independence; 90% approve

 With Ukraine independent, Gorbachev can’t picture Union without this major republic and Yeltsin waning evermore on a Union Treaty; sees weakness

 Commonwealth of Independent States designed by leaders of Ukraine, Belorus, and Russia without Gorbachev (Yeltsin's condition): Belavezha Agreement

o Three leaders inform U.S. President George Bush

 Yeltsin maneuvering to deal final blow to Gorbachev and Soviet Union

 CIS does not work as intended but damage to Soviet Union done

 Gorbachev forced to accept the demise of the Soviet Union

 Yeltsin’s scandalous way of expelling Gorbachev; personal?

 December 26 RSFSR becomes the Russian Federation; replaces Soviet embassies worldwide and the seat of the Soviet Union at the United Nations

Assessment:

Concentrate on Marples' assessment of Yeltsin