19 August 2006
Gorbachev: conclusions remain to be drawn on August 1991 events
Russia has yet to draw the final conclusions from the failed Soviet coup of August 1991, former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev told Interfax by phone from Greece, where he is currently vacationing.
"A repeat of those events is impossible today - society and the structures responsible for security have learnt all the appropriate lessons from what happened," he said.
"People for whom democracy proved a hard nut to crack then and who did not want to part with what they received from Communism decided to embark on this venture, which generally was a coup," Gorbachev said.
"The development of our country has shown that not all conclusions have been drawn yet," he added.
"Instead of an investigation into the shelling of the parliament building, the persons involved in it were effectively amnestied," Gorbachev said, referring to an incident during the anti-Yeltsin parliamentary revolt of October 1993.
"A large number of people who sided with the GKChP are currently in power and have received awards," the former Soviet president said, using the Russian acronym for the State Emergency Situation Committee, which staged the 1991 coup attempt.
Not all conclusions have been drawn yet regarding what path Russia should follow, he said.
"Even today, a lot of people seek to hold on to power by any means. But they don't want to do it through honest and open elections in which the voters make the decision," Gorbachev said.
"It is high time to understand that only democracy, freedom of speech, a responsible social policy and a transparent market economy can help improve people's lives and make the state stronger," he said.
On August 19, 1991, several high-ranking Soviet officials formed the State Emergency Situation Committee and announced the transfer of the president's powers to Vice President Gennady Yanayev, referring to Gorbachev's alleged inability to perform his duties for health reasons.
A nationwide state of emergency was declared. However, the public did not support the GKChP's moves. Gorbachev returned to Moscow. The GKChP members were sent to prison, but they were subsequently amnestied.
Interfax, 18.08.2006
