RUSSIA: MOSCOW: 1991 COMMUNIST COUP ATTEMPT ANNIVERSARY

• published: 21 Jul 2015
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Russian/Nat Hundreds of people gathered in Moscow on Sunday to celebrate the collapse of a Communist coup attempt eight years ago. On August 19, 1991 hardliners isolated the then Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev and assumed control over the government. The coup failed three days later largely thanks to a strong protest movement by the population. Thousands of people took to the streets eight years ago to defend Russia's fledgling democracy. But on Sunday only a fraction of them attended annual events to mark their victory over the coup leaders. These Russian liberals gathered to celebrate that triumph of democracy over communism. In August 1991, communist hardliners opposed to Gorbachev's reformist policies put the then General Secretary under house arrest in his holiday home, and took over the government. But there was a massive popular backlash after a call from newly-elected President Boris Yeltsin for popular resistance. Outside the White House, Yeltsin approached the commander of one of the tanks summoned by the hardliners, climbed onto it and addressed the crowd. He had the people on his side. The coup led to the end of Gorbachev's political life and ultimately the fall of the Soviet Empire. Today these liberals, who many in Russia blame for mishandling Russia's reforms, say political freedom is worth the hardships people face in post-Communist Russia. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) "The communists are trying to interfere with our lives. Had it not been for them, our hopes would have materialized. Because now, life has changed, especially that of my children. It is hard for pensioners, like me, but I'll never give up." SUPER CAPTION: Galina Nikolayevna A lot of those who supported Yeltsin and his government against the hardliners feel disillusioned after the years of economic reforms failed to bring them prosperity. Yet the democratic gains live on. Russians enjoy freedom of speech and the press, and other civil liberties, and they don't want to give that up. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) "Our goal was to achieve freedom and democracy. The freedom that we enjoy now had never been in Russia's thousand-year history. When was it possible for people to criticise their government without fear of repression? I don't think we will continue to enjoy this freedom when Yeltsin goes." SUPER CAPTION: Vladislav Krainik, demonstrator Russia's military was at first behind the coup, but later backed Yeltsin's calls to keep Russia on the path to democracy. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/d1e8ad183420e1136c1b5eaaab649c26 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork