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Posted by Amanda Kendle Aug 20, 2006 |
Despite Gorbachev's perestroika and glasnost reforms from the start of his rule in 1985, the Soviet Union still seemed like an impenetrable place to me, as I sat in high school history lessons in the late 80s, hearing about this strange, far-away country. Remember, I went to school in Australia, so it truly was a far removed place for me.
This week fifteen years ago, the August 1991 Soviet coup took place, when hardline Communist party members managed to depose Gorbachev, if only for three days. But his return to power was never full, and Boris Yeltsin began to take control.
At the same time, many of the individual republics of the USSR were declaring their independence. It wasn't until December 1991 that the Soviet Union completely collapsed. Hard to believe, isn't it? Just 15 years ago, but now many of us considering traveling in these countries with much the same forethoughts as journeying to Paris or Tahiti.