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Gorbachev rises to power
Mikhail Gorbachev becomes the general secretary of the Communist Party. Although His intentions of how to remodel the party and what to do in the Soviet Union was a good idea, at least for the rest of the world, it was clear that these times were the start of the end for it. -
Gorbachev visits Lithuania
Gorbachev visited Lithuania because they wanted to become independent from the USSR. He didn't aludem but they did it anyway. Later on, he received the same petition from Azerbaijan, but this time he decided to send military forces. With the move, He sent military forces to Lithuania as well. -
Gorbachev is chosen as the USSR's president
Mikhail Gorbachev was chosen, both by the people and by the Congress of People's Deputies of the Soviet Union to be the first and only president. It was the same as all previous head of states, but it was the new name given to the office. -
Boris Yeltsin
Boris Yeltsin was elected president in the Russian republic and he said that the republics that were made up the USSR should become independent states. -
Ukraine
After huge demonstrations Ukraine, it finally declared it's independence. -
Gorbachev recieves the Nobel Peace Prize
Mikhail Gorbachev receives the Nobel peace prize for the work he did in ending cold war tensions between the USSR and western powers. He also earned the respect of many for his policy of non-intervention. -
Georgia declares it's independence
After many years of protests in Georgia, it finally declared it's independence after a referendum on the 31st of March. On the 9th, there was a bloody massacre on the country. -
The USSR was desintegrating
By Agust things were clear that it was just a matter of some time for the collapse of the USSR to happen. Gorbachew was having problems holding it together
Hardline Communist Party members and leading military officers attempted to take over the USSR. They held Gorbachev prisoner in his holiday home in the Crimea. They sent tanks and troops onto the streets of Moscow. -
The USSR was desintegrating 2
Huge crowds gathered in Moscow. They strongly opposed this military coup. The Russian President, Boris Yeltsin, emerged as the leader of the popular opposition. The rebels could not continue with their rebellion
A few days later after this, Gorbachev returned to Moscow -
The USSR last days
Mikhail Gorbachev abdicated from power of the Soviet Union and the following day, the Supreme Soviet's upper chamber declared the independence of the Soviet republics, dissolving once for all the Soviet Union after 69 years. A later report said that a "sense of failure and regret" came through Gorbachev's voice, but that he should be proud for liberating many of Eastern Europe's countries and that his Nobel prize was well deserved.