Chairman
Appointed Chairman of the KGB
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1991 in Russia — Page 3
Explore 161 historical events and records for Russia in 1991.
Historical records for Russia in 1991
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 161 unique records.
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August
Coup
Gorbachev resumes presidency in Moscow
KGB (Committee for State Security)
Ordered by Gorbachov to convert the KGB into a normal police force. Appointed Chairman of the KGB
Reform of Policing
Ordered by Gorbachov to convert the KGB into a normal police force
Russian Control over Union Institutions Expands
Moves to bring key Soviet-era institutions and property inside Russia under Russian state control after the coup fails.
Independence of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania
The USA recognizes the independence of Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania
Independence of Russia
The USA recognizes the independence of Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania
Recognition of the independence of Estonia
The USA recognizes the independence of Estonia, Latvia & Lithuania
Minister of Internal Affairs
Appointed Minister of Internal Affairs for USSR
Coup
Arrests members of the Emergency Committee. An ally of Boris Yeltsin, supports an independent Russia from the Soviet Union
Coup
Organizes the defence of the White House & ensures the arrival of the MVD units
Coup
Hundreds of thousands demonstrate in Moscow against the coup
Coup
Death of Boris Pugo, commits suicide during the attempted coud dEtat
Death of Boris Pugo
Death of Boris Pugo, commits suicide during the attempted coud dEtat
Suicide
Death of Boris Pugo, commits suicide during the attempted coud dEtat
September
Bryukhanov Early Release from Prison
Is released on parole after serving about half of his ten-year sentence for safety violations connected with the disaster.
Colonel
Appointed Colonel General
Reform of Government
Ends all party & political activities in the MVD
October
Soyuz TM-13 Docking
Arrives aboard Mir and joins Sergei Krikalev, forming the station's next long-duration resident crew during a period of political change.
Soviet Reciprocal Nuclear Initiatives
Announces reciprocal Soviet reductions and changes to tactical nuclear forces following the United States initiative.
Nuclear Power
Announces nuclear cuts
Minister of Finance
Appointed Minister of Finance, Deputy
Minister of State
Appointed Minister of State Security
November
CPSU Structures Banned in Russia
Signs a decree ending CPSU and Russian Communist Party organizational activity in Russia.
Independence of Russia
The Ukraine signs the Soviet economic-union Treaty at the Kremlin
Independence of Ukraine
The Ukraine signs the Soviet economic-union Treaty at the Kremlin
Heads Russian Reform Government
Assumes leadership of the Russian government while launching the first post-Soviet market reform programme.
Market Reform Decree Package
Signs a package of presidential decrees and government orders intended to move Russia toward a market economy.
Russian Support for Soviet Budget
Russia agrees to provide emergency financial support to the Soviet central government during its final budget crisis.
Gaidar Appointed Economic Reform Deputy
Appoints Yegor Gaidar first deputy prime minister with responsibility for designing rapid market reforms.
December
Independence of Russia
The Ukraine votes for its independence during a referendum
Independence of Ukraine
The Ukraine votes for its independence during a referendum
Referendum
The Ukraine votes for its independence during a referendum
Belovezha Agreement
Signs the Belovezha Agreement with the leaders of Ukraine and Belarus, declaring the Soviet Union ended and creating the CIS.
Russian Legislature Approves CIS
The Russian legislature ratifies the Belovezha agreement establishing the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Agreement on Soviet Dissolution
Yeltsin and Mikhail Gorbachev discuss the transfer of powers as the Soviet Union approaches dissolution.
Alma-Ata CIS Expansion
Joins leaders of former Soviet republics at Alma-Ata as the Commonwealth of Independent States expands.
US Recognition of Russia Discussed
Speaks by telephone with George H. W. Bush as the United States prepares formal recognition of Russia.
CIS
The Presidents of Russia, Ukraine & Belarus create the Commonwealth of Ind States
Commonwealth
The Presidents of Russia, Ukraine & Belarus create the Commonwealth of Ind States
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.