The
Attempted Coup
uOn August 19, a group of Communist hard-liners in the highest councils of the regime attempted to impose a national state of emergency and to force Gorbachev to go along with the decision. The coup failed.
–Yeltsin, having rallied pro-democracy forces in front
of the Russian parliament,
emerged as the hero of the hour.
–On August 22 the army withdrew its tanks from Moscow
and the leaders
of the plot surrendered.