13 January 1991Invasion of LithuaniaMikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev
Soviet troops storm a television station in Vilnius
Historical records for Russia in 1991, rendered directly from the World History Database and ordered by month, day and event.
Soviet troops storm a television station in Vilnius
A referendum in Lithuania votes in favour of independence from Moscow
Gorbachev proposes a timetable for Iraqi withdrawal and an end to fighting.
A small majority for his proposal for a federation of socialist sovereign republics
Small majority a renewed federation of socialist sovereign republics
Tens of thousands demonstrate in Moscow in support of Yeltsin despite restrictions on public rallies.
Georgia proclaims independence from Moscow
Georgia proclaims independence from Moscow
Georgia proclaims a general strike
Georgia proclaims a general strike
Troops are moved into Ossetia to reassert control over Georgia
Georgia proclaims a general strike
Troops are moved into Ossetia to reassert control over Georgia
Troops are moved into Ossetia to reassert control over Georgia
Troops are moved into Ossetia to reassert control over Georgia
Troops are moved into Ossetia to reassert control over Georgia
The 1st Russian President to visit Japan
The USSR is renamed the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics. Gorbachev announces a final agreement on a Treaty designed to preserve the Soviet federation while giving more power to the republics
The USSR is renamed the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics
Russia stages it 1st ever general election
The people of Leningrad vote by 55% to 43% to change their city name to Saint Petersburg
Russia stages it 1st ever general election
Wins Russia's first direct presidential election with about fifty-seven percent of the vote.
The people of Leningrad vote by 55% to 43% to change their city name to Saint Petersburg
The people of Leningrad vote by 55% to 43% to change their city name to Saint Petersburg
Meets President George H. W. Bush at the White House after his election as Russian president.
The final Comecon council session takes place June 28, 1991 in Budapest, and led to an agreement to disband within 90 days
The final Comecon council session takes place June 28, 1991 in Budapest, and led to an agreement to disband within 90 days
The final Comecon council session takes place June 28, 1991 in Budapest, and led to an agreement to disband within 90 days
The Albanian Government is overthrown
Appointed Mayor of Moscow
Leaders of the Warsaw Pact sign a protocol terminating the Warsaw Pact Organisation
President Bush sends a personal message to Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, urging a stronger effort to conclude arms control talks
Begins exercising the new executive powers of the Russian presidency after taking the oath of office.
Takes the presidential oath as the first elected president of the Russian Federation.
Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev makes a personal appeal for Western aid at the conclusion of the Group of Seven economic summit in London
Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev makes a personal appeal for Western aid at the conclusion of the Group of Seven economic summit in London
Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev makes a personal appeal for Western aid at the conclusion of the Group of Seven economic summit in London
Signs a decree prohibiting political party organizations from operating inside Russian state institutions and enterprises.
The draft of a new platform for the Soviet Communist Party is published, calling for private property, economic integration into world market and freedom of religion
Gorbachev urges Communist leaders at a Central Committee meeting to reject "outdated ideological dogmas" and embrace a market economy
Gorbachev urges Communist leaders at a Central Committee meeting to reject "outdated ideological dogmas" and embrace a market economy
The US & Russia agree to arms control after 9 years of negotiatons
Bush & Gorbachev sign the Strategic Arms Reduction
Bush & Gorbachev sign the Strategic Arms Reduction
Bush & Gorbachev sign the Strategic Arms Reduction
Signs START 1 with the USA to reduce offensive strategic arms
Russia attends the G7 Conference
Imprisoned at his holiday villa, dacha, in the Crimea by hardline communists
Gorbachev is detained in his summer residence on the orders of Kryuchkov
Declares the emergency committee unconstitutional and calls for a general strike and civil resistance.
Arrested during a coup
One of the ring leaders who plots against Gorbachev
A coup takes place while Gorbachev is establishing a federal Union of Sovereign States
Arrested during a coup
Gennady Yanayev is declared Gorbachevs replacement as President. Forms an 8 man Emergency Committee & declares Gorbachev deposed. Declares as state of emergency
Forms an 8 man Emergency Committee & declares Gorbachev deposed & a state of emergency
Forms an 8 man Emergency Committee & declares Gorbachev deposed & a state of emergency
Gennady Yanayev is declared Gorbachevs replacement as President. Forms an 8 man Emergency Committee. Declares Gorbachev deposed. Declares a state of emergency
Emerges as the principal public leader of resistance to the State Committee for the State of Emergency.
Uses the Russian White House as the political headquarters for organized resistance to the emergency committee.
Declares as state of emergency
Forms an 8 man Emergency Committee & declares Gorbachev deposed & a state of emergency
Forms an 8 man Emergency Committee & declares Gorbachev deposed & a state of emergency
Declares a state of emergency
Appointed President of Russia by the Emergency Committee
Addresses crowds from an armoured vehicle outside the Russian White House during resistance to the August coup.
Russian troops defect to Yeltsin & the coup collapses
Putin resigns from the state security services during the KGB-supported abortive putsch against Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev
Putin resigns from the state security services during the KGB-supported abortive putsch against Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev
Putin resigns from the state security services during the KGB-supported abortive putsch against Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev
The coup fails & Yanaev is arrested but later amnestied by the Russian Duma
The hard-line coup collapses as military support shifts and resistance centered on the Russian White House succeeds.
The communist conspirators flee Moscow
Gorbachev is held under guard in a Dacha by the Black Sea
Restored as President & the coup is defeated. Reform is given a poweeful boost as the Communist Party is weakened
The coup fails & Yanaev is arrested but later amnestied by the Russian Duma
Appointed Chairman of the KGB
Gorbachev resumes presidency in Moscow
Ordered by Gorbachov to convert the KGB into a normal police force. Appointed Chairman of the KGB
Ordered by Gorbachov to convert the KGB into a normal police force
Moves to bring key Soviet-era institutions and property inside Russia under Russian state control after the coup fails.
The USA recognizes the independence of Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania
The USA recognizes the independence of Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania
The USA recognizes the independence of Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania
Appointed Minister of Internal Affairs for USSR
Arrests members of the Emergency Committee. An ally of Boris Yeltsin, supports an independent Russia from the Soviet Union
Organizes the defence of the White House & ensures the arrival of the MVD units
Hundreds of thousands demonstrate in Moscow against the coup
Death of Boris Pugo, commits suicide during the attempted coud dEtat
Death of Boris Pugo, commits suicide during the attempted coud dEtat
Death of Boris Pugo, commits suicide during the attempted coud dEtat
Appointed Colonel General
Ends all party & political activities in the MVD
Announces reciprocal Soviet reductions and changes to tactical nuclear forces following the United States initiative.
Announces nuclear cuts
Appointed Minister of Finance, Deputy
Appointed Minister of State Security
Signs a decree ending CPSU and Russian Communist Party organizational activity in Russia.
The Ukraine signs the Soviet economic-union Treaty at the Kremlin
The Ukraine signs the Soviet economic-union Treaty at the Kremlin
Assumes leadership of the Russian government while launching the first post-Soviet market reform programme.
Signs a package of presidential decrees and government orders intended to move Russia toward a market economy.
Russia agrees to provide emergency financial support to the Soviet central government during its final budget crisis.
Appoints Yegor Gaidar first deputy prime minister with responsibility for designing rapid market reforms.
The Ukraine votes for its independence during a referendum
The Ukraine votes for its independence during a referendum
The Ukraine votes for its independence during a referendum
Signs the Belovezha Agreement with the leaders of Ukraine and Belarus, declaring the Soviet Union ended and creating the CIS.
The Russian legislature ratifies the Belovezha agreement establishing the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Yeltsin and Mikhail Gorbachev discuss the transfer of powers as the Soviet Union approaches dissolution.
Joins leaders of former Soviet republics at Alma-Ata as the Commonwealth of Independent States expands.
Speaks by telephone with George H. W. Bush as the United States prepares formal recognition of Russia.
The Presidents of Russia, Ukraine & Belarus create the Commonwealth of Ind States
The Presidents of Russia, Ukraine & Belarus create the Commonwealth of Ind States
Russia assumes the Soviet Union's United Nations membership and Security Council seat.
Russia takes the USSRs place in the UN
The USSR ends after republics declare independence. The USSR ceases to exist
Gorbachev resigns his position as President of the USSR, signifying the demise of the Soviet Union, 14 former Soviet republics (including Russia) become independent states
Gorbachev resigns his position as President of the USSR, signifying the demise of the Soviet Union, 14 former Soviet republics (including Russia) become independent states
Resigns as leader of the Communist Party
Gorbachev resigns his position as President of the USSR, signifying the demise of the Soviet Union, 14 former Soviet republics (including Russia) become independent states
Assumes Russia's central responsibility for the former Soviet strategic nuclear arsenal after Gorbachev leaves office.
Signs measures allowing expanded private ownership and transfer of land as part of market reforms.
Approves the decree that will free most retail prices from state control in January 1992.
The Peace Agreement with the USA enables withdrawal of Vietnam from Kampuchea
"Novy Mir" magazine publishe a novella "Cabiria from the Obvodnyi Channel". First book, "Ward of Lost Souls" (in other translations "Department of the Lost")
Campaigns for the newly created Russian presidency in the first direct election for the office.
Appointed Chairman of the Russian Peoples Union
Appointed Chairman of the Inter-republican Security Service
Arrested & replacec as chairman of the KGB by Bakatin
Death of Sergei Fedorovich Akhromeev, commits suicide after the failed August coup
During a coup against Gorbachev Estonia declares its full independence
Death of Sergei Fedorovich Akhromeev, commits suicide after the failed August coup
"Novy Mir" magazine publishe a novella "Cabiria from the Obvodnyi Channel". First book, "Ward of Lost Souls" (in other translations "Department of the Lost")
The Russian Communist Party is dissolved
Runs against Yeltsin as Gorbahcovs candidate but only polls 3.4%
Russia attends a meeting of the G7 & transforms it into the G8
Russia attends a meeting of the G7 & transforms it into the G8
During a coup against Gorbachev Estonia declares its full independence
During a coup against Gorbachev Estonia declares its full independence
Has the task of dividing the KGB into law & order, intelligence & counter-intelligence
Arrested & replacec as chairman of the KGB by Bakatin
"Novy Mir" magazine publishe a novella "Cabiria from the Obvodnyi Channel". First book, "Ward of Lost Souls" (in other translations "Department of the Lost")
Has the task of dividing the KGB into law & order, intelligence & counter-intelligence
Appointed Member of security council
Death of Sergei Fedorovich Akhromeev, commits suicide after the failed August coup
Fails to get other members of the G-7 to agree a financial package
Prepares a plan of radical economic reforms to be supported by massive western aid
Prepares a plan of radical economic reforms to be supported by massive western aid
"Novy Mir" magazine publishe a novella "Cabiria from the Obvodnyi Channel". First book, "Ward of Lost Souls" (in other translations "Department of the Lost")
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