Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev Biography and Timeline — Page 2

Nuclear Power

Meets Reagan to discuss arms control

Nuclear Power

Russia & the USA agree "nuclear war cannot be won". Russia & the USA agree not to "achieve military superiority". Meets Reagan to discuss arms control

Role range: 1985-1991

Nuclear Power

Russia & the USA agree "nuclear war cannot be won"

Economy of Russia

Reduces vodka production by 60% & increases its price by 200% by 6 months in office

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1985-1991

Nuclear Power

Announces a 15 yr timetable for the abolition of all nuclear weapons

Role range: 1985-1991

Demonstrations

Disorders in Tbilisi, 20 demonstrators are killed by Soviet troops

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1980-1991

Chernobyl Initial Briefings

Receives initial government briefings as Soviet authorities begin assessing the scale of the Chernobyl reactor accident.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1985-1991

Nuclear Power

Reporting restrictions are restored, only Tass bulletins are published

Chernobyl Crisis Management

Oversees central government crisis management as evacuation and emergency-response measures expand around Chernobyl.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1985-1991

Chernobyl Evacuation Oversight

Receives reports as Soviet authorities extend evacuation measures beyond Pripyat into the surrounding contaminated region.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1985-1991

Chernobyl Information Policy

Faces growing pressure to provide fuller public information as radioactive fallout from Chernobyl is detected outside the Soviet Union.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1985-1991

Chernobyl Foreign Notification

Approves wider disclosure as the Soviet government acknowledges the Chernobyl accident to foreign governments and international organizations.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1985-1991

Chernobyl Government Commission

Supports the work of the state commission investigating the causes, consequences and emergency response to the Chernobyl disaster.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1985-1991

Chernobyl Government Statement

Addresses the Soviet public about Chernobyl after international detection of radioactive fallout makes continued silence untenable.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1985-1991

Chernobyl Public Address

Delivers a televised address explaining the Chernobyl accident and criticising Western reporting while acknowledging the seriousness of the disaster.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1985-1991

Disaster

Speaks on Russian TV because radiation levels can be measured in the west

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1985-1991

Nuclear Power

Speaks on Russian TV because radiation levels can be measured in the west

Role range: 1985-1991

Chernobyl Cleanup Mobilization

Oversees a national response that mobilizes military personnel, engineers, scientists and civilian workers for cleanup and containment.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1985-1991

Chernobyl Glasnost Impact

Confronts domestic criticism that secrecy surrounding Chernobyl conflicts with his policy of greater openness under glasnost.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1985-1991

Chernobyl International Cooperation

Supports increased cooperation with the IAEA as international concern grows over the transboundary effects of the accident.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1985-1991

Nuclear Safety Review

Orders broader consideration of nuclear-safety shortcomings exposed by the Chernobyl accident.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1985-1991

Chernobyl Economic Cost

Confronts the growing economic burden of evacuation, cleanup, lost agricultural land and reactor containment after Chernobyl.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1985-1991

Chernobyl Reactor Safety Measures

Backs safety modifications and operational changes for Soviet RBMK reactors following investigation of the Chernobyl accident.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1985-1991

Chernobyl Scientific Assessment

Receives scientific assessments concerning radiation contamination, reactor damage and long-term health risks after Chernobyl.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1985-1991

Chernobyl Relocation Policy

Oversees government policies for relocating populations from areas judged too contaminated for continued normal residence.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1985-1991

Chernobyl International Review

Allows Soviet experts to present technical information about the accident at the IAEA post-accident review meeting in Vienna.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1985-1991

Nuclear Accident Notification Convention

Supports Soviet participation in new international arrangements for rapid notification of nuclear accidents with possible cross-border consequences.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1985-1991

Nuclear Emergency Assistance Convention

Supports international agreements improving cooperation and assistance during nuclear and radiological emergencies.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1985-1991

Chernobyl Shelter Completion

Receives reports on completion of the initial shelter constructed over the destroyed Unit 4 reactor.

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1985-1991

Reform of Private Enterprise

Legislation is passed allowing free enterprise

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1985-1991

Demonstrations

Disorders in Alma

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1980-1991

Congress of Peoples Deputies

Creates a Parliament called the Congress of Peoples Deputies

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1985-1991

Economy of Russia

Attempts to prevent private enterprise on the black market

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1985-1991

General

Appointed Member of Politburo

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1980-1991

Reform of Private Enterprise

Legislation is passed allowing free enterprise. Attempts to prevent private enterprise on the black market. A law against unearned income is passed

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1985-1991

Summit Meeting

Begins a series of summit meetings with President Reagan

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1980-1991

Constitution of Russia

Proposes elections for party officials, a practice which is soon adopted

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1985-1991

Election

Proposes elections for party officials, a practice which is soon adopted

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1985-1991

Nuclear Power

Proposes a separate agreement on abolition of medium range nuclear missiles in Europe. Drops his insistence on the curtailment of the US SDI program

Role range: 1985-1991

Arrest of Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev

Gorbachev & Sakharov meet publicly in Moscow at the International Peace Forum

Role range: 1917-1991 – 1985-1991