19_22_августа_1991_года

Message-ID: <35056@hydra.gatech.EDU>

Date: 19 Aug 91 18:36:23 GMT

Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology

Lines: 57

There are a lot of things that really stick in my craw about this whole thing. Number 1 would be that we could have possibly averted all this

by some shipments of wheat, some tractors, and some experts. But NOOOO... Wouldn't be prudent, gotta wait for more reforms before we think about helping the Soviets. Sure it would have cost billions, but considerably less than all those new weapons our military will now want to buy.

Another is the way anchors keep repeating to each other that comforting phrase about "not being able to put the genie back in the bottle". Look, these guys are desperate types to begin with to try a coup. Now they are in even worse straits because a failed coup would probably mean a firing squad. Thus they will do anything neccessary to retain power. They may not be able to hold on to all the republics forever, but how much blood will be spilt in the meantime? And they all seem to hammer on the fact that the Soviet VP is just some toady that the KGB and the Red Army are using to read their lines. While I doubt it it that simple (what is about Party politics?), again so what? What we need to know is who IS in power and what they are likely to do. Does anyone have access to any background data on the major players here? Just curious about their careers as an indicator of what the might be capable of.

All this optimistic talk about "can't turn back the clock" I'm hearing

Newsgroups: talk.politics.soviet Subject: RE: Yeltzin's letter Message-ID: <1131@cronos.metaphor.com> Date: 19 Aug 91 18:40:58 GMT

Sender: news@cronos.metaphor.com

Reply-To: eli@Metaphor.COM (Eli Lauris)

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This is my translation of the posting of Yeltzin's letter published in Russian transliteration by Ury Segal: ---------------------

To citizens of Russia,

In the night of August 18, 1991 the duly elected president of the country was removed from power.

Whatever the reasons given for this removal, we are dealing with a right-wing, reactionary, anti-constitutional overthrow.

In spite of all difficulties borne by the people, the democratic process in the country has taken an increasingly deeper dimension, irreversible nature. The peoples of Russia are becoming masters of their fate. We have severely restricted the rights of unconstitutional organs, including party organs. The leadership of Russia took a decisive pos

ition toward the Union Treaty. Our position on this issue allowed quick conclusion of negotiations, agreement with all republics and setting the date for its signing -- August 20, 1991.

dark colonel". The following is/was his solution to the crisis in the SU:

1. Remove Mikhail Gorbachev from the presidency.

2. Abolish the presidency altogether.

3. Create a "Committee of National Salvation."

4. Outlaw all polical parties--including the Communist Party.

5. Grant the rpublics a limited degree of autonomy--but only

within the framework of a strengthened SU. Permit no secession.

6. Crush all secessionist movements--with force if necessary.

7. Crack down on all political movements and suppress all

political debate, discussion, and dissent.

8. Install a private market economy--at bayone-point if necessary.

9. Then, and only then, make a transition to multiparty

democracy and freedom of expression.

10. Rebuild the Soviet military to restore the reunified USSR

to superpower status in the world.

taken from the _World Monitor_

Path: relcom!demos!fuug!mcsun!uunet!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!rutgers!mcnc!taco!garfield.catt.ncsu.edu!kdarling From: kdarling@garfield.catt.ncsu.edu (Kevin Darling)

Newsgroups: talk.politics.soviet

Subject: American families in USSR - Info Source

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Nntp-Posting-Host: oleg

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Closest Gorbachev's ally Alexander Yakovlev resigned last

Friday. He said before resigning:

"I would like to warn society that an influential Stalinist

group has formed within the leadership core of the party

which ... is preparing for ... coup".

So we know who the new masters are.

Yanayev (known Stalinist), Pugo (MVD and KGB) and Kryuchkov (KGB).

You should see their faces. They speak for themselves.

Do not listen to what these people are saying (500% of bull),

let their faces do the talking.

God save the world from them.

Oleg Vishnepolsky

Path: relcom!demos!fuug!mcsun!uunet!olivea!apple!ig!redwood.cray.com!nrd From: nrd@REDWOOD.CRAY.COM (Neal Dalton)

Newsgroups: talk.politics.soviet

Subject: Food on the shelves

Message-ID: <9108192001.AA15228@redwood22.cray.com>

Date: 19 Aug 91 20:01:06 GMT

chairman of the Russian Supreme Soviet Ruslan Khasbulatov and

Prime-Minister Ivan Silayev have declared that the legitimate President of the USSR was dismissed on the night of August l8, l990.

In an appeal to the citizens of Russia this is described as "a right-wing, reactionary, anti-constitutional coup".

They note that there were attempts of an overthrow

before.

Yeltsyn, Silayev and Khasbulatov said that the use of

force in governing the country is unacceptable. "This discredits the USSR in the face of the whole world, undermines our prestige in the international community and returns us to the cold war epoch and the isolation of the Soviet Union from the world community," the appeal says.

The three leaders declared "the so-called committee that came to power" as well as all its decisions illegal.

They expressed assurance that local government bodies will strictly observe the constitutional laws and decrees of the president of the Russian Federation.

They called for giving President Gorbachev a chance to

address the nation as well as immediately convening an extraordinary Congress of USSR People's Deputies.

"We call for a general strike without a time limit till

these demands are fulfilled", the document says.

USSR INTERIOR MINISTRY RESTORES VERTICAL LAW-ENFORCEMENT STRUCTURES

In reply to a question from IF's reporter about steps taken by the USSR Interior Ministry following the decisions of the political leadership of the country on the introduction of a state of emergency in a number of regions, the head of the ministry's public relations center Andrei Chernenko said that at the moment the ministry is concentrating its attention on the state of public order.

At a working conference Interior Minister Pugo emphasised the necessity of strengthening the defence of the civic interests of the population irrespective of the place of their residence, nationality and social standing.

The restoration of the vertical structure of lawenforcement bodies was described as the necessary measure for the implementation of this program. Appropriate information is submitted to the regional Interior Ministries.

NOTE

On August l9 IF will be issuing urgent newsletters

instead of regular bulletins.

YELTSYN FAILED TO CONTACT GORBACHEV

Speaking at a Moscow news conference on Monday the Russian President Boris Yeltsyn declared that the Ukraine and some other republics which he managed to contact share the opinion of the Russian leadership about the developments in the country. According to Yeltsyn, he failed to contact Gorbachev. All means of communication, the Russian President declared, are controlled by "the putschists". He also said that in response to Order Number One announced on radio today the Russian President is going to issue a decree on disobedience to the order. The Russian government, Yeltsyn said, will continue its work.

The news conference was also attended by Prime-Minister

Ivan Silayev and Vice-President Alexander Rutskoi.

AT THE OFFICE OF THE MOSCOW MILITARY COMMANDANT

IF's reporter was informed by the office of the Moscow

military commandant that no orders have been received on changing its functioning order. It was also said that today such an order is not expected.

COMMANDER OF LENINGRAD MILITARY DISTRICT APPEARS ON TV

At l0:00 a.m. the commander of the Leningrad military

district Colonel-General Victor Samsonov appeared on local radio and television. He said that the he has been appointed the commandant of Leningrad and the surrounding area by the State committee for the state of emergency. He announced that since 4 a.m. on August l9 a state of energency and curfew were introduced in the region. Strikes, rallies, demonstrations and processions are banned. The activities of political parties hindering the normalization of the situation and sabotaging the decisions of the committee will be banned.

Samsonov said that strict control over the media is introduced, some of them might even be closed. Besides, no one will not be allowed to quit jobs of one's own free will. He also said that the staffs of the organizations that will be closed under orders from the commandant will be forcefully employed "at factories, plants and farms".

According to Samsonov, the committee for the state of emergency for the Leningrad region will include the leader of the regional committee of the CPSU Boris Gidaspov, the vicemayor of Leningrad Vyacheslav Shcherbakov, the chairman of the Leningrad regional council Yuri Yarov and be presided by Samsonov himself.

The Mayor of Leningrad Anatoli Sobchak is absent from the city.

According to unconfirmed reports, a full-scale meeting of the Central Committee of the CPSU is due today on August l9. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX BALTFAX

August 19, 1991, 12:50

FOR SUBSCRIBERS' ATTENTION:

Today IF will release express news only.

IN TALLINN THE SPECIAL DEFENCE COUNCIL HELD A SESSION. ESTONIAN AUTHORITIES REAFFIRM THEIR POLICY OF RESTORING INDEPENDENCE BY PEACEFUL MEANS

Estonia's interim defence council held a session in Tallinn on Monday. The session was chaired by the head of Estonia's parliament Arnold Ruutel. The council urged the population, local government bodies as well as state and public structures to display calm and fortitude.

Vladimir Vinogradov, secretary of the coordinating council of the Estonian intermovement told BF that his movement supports the USSR leaders' appeal to the Soviet people. "All this is happening in the interests of the working people", V.Vinogradov stressed.

VYTAUTAS LANDSBERGIS ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE USSR

Speaking on local radio Monday morning, the head of Lithuania's parliament Vytautas Landsbergis declared that the people of Lithuania "will not collaborate with the puppet authorities should such be installed in their republic". "Martial law might be imposed in Lithuania on Monday", he said. "If military commandants impose their power, try to avoid casualties", V.Landsbergis pointed out. Lithuania's President Vytautas Landsbergis urged the people to gather in front of the parliament building.

The presidium of Lithuania's parliament is convening for an urgent session. MPs are recalled from their vacations.

BF's correspondent reports from Vilnius that independent Lithuanian TV which made its telecasts from Kaunas following the invasion of the TV center in Vilnius by the military on January 13 this year has stopped functioning. According to BF's correspondent, the relay station in Fitkunauc has been seized. A small private radio station continues its broadcasts.

Message-Id: <ABc2wheCjE@interfax.msk.su>

Organization: INTERFAX

From: leo@interfax.msk.su (Leonid Belopilsky)

Date: Mon, 19 Aug 91 15:02:50 +0200 (MSD)

INTERFAX NEWS AGENCY

INTERFAX NEWS

August 19, 1991, 14:50

THE UKRAINE TOOK A STAND SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE RUSSIAN LEADERSHIP, SAID BORIS YELTSIN

Russia's President Boris Yeltsin has told newsmen that the Russian leadership succeeded neither in broadcasting nor in telecasting its appeal. Areas in Russia are receiving the appeal over telephone.

Yeltsin called upon the leaders of all countries to condemn the coup.

According to Russia's President, the chairman of the Ukrainian parliament Leonid Kravchuk told him that the presidium of the Ukrainian parliament took a stand similar to that of the Russian leadership. It decided not to submit to the orders issued by the State-of-Emergency Committee (SEC).

The acting chairman of Russia's parliament Ruslan

Khasbulatov told newsmen that the presidium of Russia's parliament held an urgent conference and decided to convene the parliament for an emergency session on Wednesday to discuss the political situation in the Russian Federation.

The representatives of constituent republics and

autonomous regions authorized to sign union treaty are now in Moscow, said R.Khasbulatov.

The building of Russia's parliament has been surrounded by tanks, said Russia's prime minister Ivan Silayev.

Answering newsmen's questions Boris Yeltsin said that

today he was prevented from entering the Kremlin where he was going to meet with G.Yanayev. Later Yeltsin managed to get in

touch with Yanayev who told him that Gorbachev could no longer perform the functions of president.

His attempts to get in touch with Gorbachev ended in failure, said B.Yeltsin. "If Gorbachev is alive and still there (at the presidential villa in the Crimea), he is blocked", said Russia's President. He spoke with Gorbachev for the last time last Friday, said Yeltsin. According to him, "on Friday Gorbachev was safe and sound", and intended to hold an important conference on August 21.

YELTSIN ISSUED A DECREE DENYING RECOGNITION TO THE STATE-OFEMERGENCY COMMITTEE

Russia's President Boris Yeltsin signed a decree which proclaims the State-of-Emergency Committee as unconstitutional and qualifies its actions as treason.

The decree proclaims all orders issued by the SEC as illegal and null and void in the territory of Russia. The

lawful authorities in the territory of Russia continue to function, said Yeltsin.

"The activity of persons who comply with the orders of the SEC will be qualified in accordance with the criminal code of the Russian Federation and subjected to legal proceedings", the decree says.

The decree came into force as soon as it was signed.

THE LEADERS OF THE STATE-OF-EMERGENCY COMMITTEE WILL GIVE A NEWS CONFERENCE

Members of the State-of-Emergency Committee G.Yanayev, V.Pavlov and O.Baklanov will give a news conference at the press center of the USSR foreign ministry at 17:00 today.

MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC REFORMS GIVES A PRESS CONFERENCE

The Movement for Democratic Reforms gives a press conference at 15:00 today at the building of the Soviet Foreign Policy Association, 10, Elizarova St. It will release a statement.

Telephone numbers for contacts: 975-21-67, 297-78-35, 299-15-12.

INTERFAX 250-92-55, 250-92-57

LEONID BELOPILSKY leo@interfax.msk.su

Xref: relcom talk.politics.soviet:3496 soc.culture.soviet:787

Message-ID: <2A3564CE7EBF000E2B@OBERLIN.BITNET> Date: 19 Aug 91 21:31:00 GMT

Sender: daemon@presto.ig.com

Reply-To: "talk.politics.soviet via ListServ" <TPS-L@indycms.bitnet>

Lines: 57

I just watched the Soviet news show Vremya thanks to the folks at SCOLA. In addition to what we've already heard, here are a few more tidbits:

The State Committee on the State of Emergency (Gosudarstvennyi Komitet po Chrezvychainomy Polozheniyu--GKChP) also includes the chairman of the Peasant's Union and the chairman of the Union of Industrial Enterprises (and transport and construction, etc.).

Never was it specified exactly which parts of the USSR were included in the state of emergency, but Moscow and Latvia are definitely included. The commander of Moscow was declared to be General Kalinin of the Moscow Military District. The commander of the Baltic Military District was put in charge of the Baltic republics, according to First Secretary Rubiks of the Latvian Communist Party.

The GKChP has declared control of the media and has limited publication of Moscow and central newspapers to a selected few, including Pravda, Izvestiya, Trud, Sovetskaya Rossiya, and Krasnaya Zvezda. At the press conference held by acting president Yanaev, a correspondent from Argumenty i Fakty asked what would happen to the newspapers that had been closed (including Moscow News). Yanaev replied that certain newspapers would have to be "re-registered", and that the press was in part responsible for the current tensions in the country.

One of the prime objectives of the GKChP is to save the harvest. In order to do so it will take all necessary measures, including the use of workers

and students in field labor.

President Snegur of Moldova (Moldavia) announced that his republic would

continue to pursue its course toward independence. A similar statement was made by the leadership of Estonia. However, the strike committee of enterprises in Estonia declared its support for the measures taken by the GKChP. President Nazarbaev of Kazakhstan did not declare explicit support for the GKChP, but asked the citizens of Kazakhstan to remain calm and not do anything to endanger the harvest. President Akaev of Kirghizistan also asked citizens to remain calm. President Landsbergis called for Lithuanians to defend their parliament once again. The report from Lithuania also included interviews with workers who support the GKChP, but from what I could tell they were probably Russian. On the streets of Moscow people were building barricades around the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR. When asked why they were doing this, one man replied, "Vilnius taught us. We should have expected this."

At the press conference a Newsweek reporter asked Yanaev what, specifically, Gorbachev was sick with. Yanaev replied that Gorbachev was completely safe and resting.

The GKChP has declared that any actions of political parties, social organizations and movements, etc., that obstruct the measures taken by the GKChP are illegal. Mass meetings and demonstrations are forbidden.

However, a crowd gathered in front of the Leningrad City Soviet, whose deputies came out in support of the statement by Yeltsin condemning the "unconstitutional coup" and calling for a general strike.

Karen Segar

sks2454@oberlin

sks2454@ocvaxa.cs.oberlin.edu

Message-ID: <C356A3EE20A00536@vax1.umkc.edu> Date: 19 Aug 91 20:39:00 GMT

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NPR reports the following at 1530 CDT -

1) Strikes are already occurring at individual mines, more are to occur

2) A. Sobchak is reported still in charge of Leningrad

3) Yeltsin has called for a mass rally tomorrow near the Kremlin

4) Shevardnadze is reported to have called on the West to support the reformers

over the coup leaders

5) The Soviet Military District has allegedly taken control of all three

Baltic republics

6) The US Dow Jones index plunged 70 points in the wake of the USSR coup, with

losers outnumbering gainers 8-1.

A heart-breaking time, I feel deeply saddened for the people and especially

the soldiery of the USSR - all of whom face VERY hard choices in the next

few days. VMS

Path: relcom!demos!fuug!mcsun!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!aero-c!quark2.aero.org!heirich From: heirich@quark2.aero.org (ALAN HEIRICH)

Newsgroups: talk.politics.soviet

Subject: Military in republics, Yeltsin barricaded

Message-ID: <19AUG199113463139@quark2.aero.org> Date: 19 Aug 91 21:46:00 GMT

References: <3590@mcsun.eu.net>

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News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.4-b1

Latest NPR developments:

o The army has moved in the breakaway republics and has

taken over communication centers.

o Yeltsin is barricaded in the headquarters of the Russian

republic, surrounded by his own tanks.

Path: relcom!demos!fuug!mcsun!uunet!wupost!usc!apple!ig!math.berkeley.edu!nehaniv From: nehaniv@MATH.BERKELEY.EDU (Chrystopher Lev Nehaniv)

Newsgroups: talk.politics.soviet

Subject: (none)

Message-ID: <9108192102.AA18345@math.berkeley.edu>

Date: 19 Aug 91 21:02:34 GMT

gary@neit.cgd.ucar.edu (Gary Strand) writes:

> With Gorbachev gone a la Khrushchev, and the hardliners now asserting their > control, a couple issues pop to mind:

It is impossible to say what the future will bring, but here are my

guesses:

> a) Is the 6-month "state of emergency" a nice way to say "martial law"?

Yes.

> b) Will the more-nationalistic republics try to break away during this

> period of instability?

I doubt that they will have a chance to try anything until civil war

first breaks out in Russia.

> b') Will we see massive brutal crackdowns by the Army?

Yes.

> b'') Will the Army participate en masse or will we see fracturing? Maybe some fracturing, but I don't see any sign yet of a major breakup.

That could change very fast once blood starts to be spilled.

> c) How great is the risk of civil war?

I have said for a long time that a civil war was close to inevitable. A peaceful path would have been one with very little room for deviation.

Sender: news@rice.edu (News)

Reply-To: mcmahon@owlnet.rice.edu (Michael G. McMahon)

Organization: Rice University

Lines: 11

Could someone please post, or email me the time differences between GMT,

Moscow time, and CDT? (Or EST).

It's hard to get these things in time perscective.

Peace.

-mike

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

There is a level of cowardice lower than that of the conformist:

the fashionable non-conformist. -ayn rand \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

Path: relcom!demos!fuug!mcsun!uunet!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!apple!ig!oberlin.bitnet!SKS2454 From: SKS2454@oberlin.bitnet ("Acme Industrial Heavy Objects, Inc.")

Newsgroups: talk.politics.soviet

Subject: Re: Forwarded "as is" from USSR

I hate to rain on Yeltsin's parade, but the interview with Kravchuk broadcast on Vremya said nothing of the sort. Kravchuk said that while he might not support all of the methods of the State-of-Emergency Committee, somebody should have done something similar sooner.

P.S. Yeltsin called an emergency session of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR for August 21 and the Supreme Soviet will hold an emergency session on August 26.