2003 Soviet coup d'état

2003 Soviet coup d'état
General Information
Location	Moscow, Soviet Union
Date	2003
Participants	Fyodor Korzhenko KGB Second Chief Directorate Militsiya police forces
Result	Mikhail Gorbachev removed from power Fyodor Korzhenko installed as new Soviet President Protests across the Soviet Union against the new hardline government Many arrested by police and security Unknown number casualties

In 2003, a coup d'état took place in the Soviet Union, when the communist hardliners forcibly seized control of the country from Mikhail Gorbachev, who was Soviet President and General Secretary of the Communist Party at the time.

History

The coup, led by Politburo member Fyodor Korzhenko and hardliners within the Communist Party, was also backed by the police forces and the Second Chief Directorate of the KGB. They opposed Gorbachev's reform program, were angry at the rise of capitalism within the Soviet Union, and were skeptical of the country's growing ties with the West, especially in the aftermath of the Mars-7 Alliance and the end of the Cold War.

The hardliners dispatched KGB agents, who detained Gorbachev. His disappearance led to civilian protests and brutal crackdowns in response by the police. In the days following the coup, the Army initially retook control in some areas and sought to restore Gorbachev to power. However, an agreement was later reached between the KGB and the Army, forcing Gorbachev to step down in a bloodless transfer of power to Korzhenko.

Following the coup, the KGB and hardliners installed their own leadership in key state institutions, including Roscosmos, where Irina Morozova became director, succeeding Lenara Catiche. Margo Madison was asked by Morozova to work under her following the coup.

Gallery

Crown upset at a newstand

Police forces shut down protests

People are arrested

Soviet Crisis in the news

Tanks on the streets in Moscow

Korzhenko in the news

Margo's interrogation

Margo tortured

Behind the scenes

• In OTL, a similar coup attempt by hardliners against Gorbachev took place in August 1991 but failed, with Gorbachev being restored to power quickly after. However, the 1991 coup destabilized the Soviet Union and Gorbachev's authority, contributing to the collapse of the Soviet Union 4 months later.

See also

• Mikhail Gorbachev
• Fyodor Korzhenko
• Soviet Union
• Irina Morozova