Michail Gorbaczow, the initiator of transformations in Central Europe, October 7th 1989.

The biggest aspirations for independence were in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. In December 1991 inhabitants of Lithuania and Latvia tried to free themselves from the USSR rules. In that situation Promoscow Committees of National Rescue (Promoskiewskie Komitety Ocalenia Narodowego) with army's help strove for taking the authority over. People of these republics came up against the army. In February 91% of Lithuania's citizens were for creating independent Lithuanian country. One month later above 70% of Latvia and Estonia wanted to recover freedom for their republics.

On March 7th 1991 a referendum related to future of the USSR was carried over - the USSR was to become "a renewed federation of independent republics", in which people of each nation would have the same rights. Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Georgia and Moldavia refused to take part in the referendum. Results of voting announced in others nine republics were unfair. According to Gorbaczow's intention, they confirmed the society's support for the idea of USSR's unity.

In spring 1991 miners started to strike in mines of in Ukraine. The strike spread to areas of Russian Federation, especially Siberia very quickly. Apart from economic postulates, strikers demanded resignation of Michail Gorbaczow accusing him and his policy of causing the economic crisis.

In April Federation of Independent Trade Unions called the society to strike. 50 million people answered to its appeal. Among postulates, there was a demand for liquidation of KPZR from institutions. Also in Byelorussia strikers fought for independence of their republics.

Announcement of Borys Jelcyn during a coup d'etat in Moscow on August 19th 1991.

On June 12th 1991 Borys Jelcyn was chosen for a president of Russia. 74,7% of people voted for him. Similarly to Gorbaczow, Jelcyn started his political career in KPZR. After withdrawing from the party, he became a member of the opposition.

The attempts of Gorbaczow at keeping country's unity became a reason to create a project of turning USSR into Union of the Sovereign Soviet Republic. A day before signing it, on August 19th 1991 there was a coup d'etat in Moscow. The group which tried to get control over the situation back included the representatives of Conservatives from party, administration, army with deputy prime minister of USSR Genadij Janajew in charge of it.Thanks to Jelcyn's attitude, who was supported by inhabitants of Moscow, Leningrad and other Russian cities, the coup d'etat finished after three days.

The coup d'etat hastened the decay of USSR.On December 8th 1991 in Brzesc the authorities of Ukraine and Byelorussia signed the contract referring to creating of the Commonwealth of Independent Countries. A few days later five Central-Asian republics joined it. In Ukraine and other republics there were presidential elections.