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Attempted coup in the Soviet Union in 1991, 35th anniversary on 19 August

Aug 19, 2026

The following photos have been selected for you by the IMAGO picture desk on this topic. For more pictures please use the search function.

  • Nizhny Novgorod, USSR. Supporters of USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev and RSFSR President Boris Yeltsin gather in the city centre on the rally in support of democratic forces after the State Committee on the State of Emergency (GKChP) failed coup attempt. In order to prevent the signing of the Union Treaty, which has to replace the USSR by the new federation of sovereign states, the representatives of top Soviet leadership, headed by Vice-President of the USSR Gennady Yanayev removed the USSR President from power and declared state of emergency. Anatoly Morkovkin, Nikolai Moshkov TASS 32444899
  • RECORD DATE NOT STATED Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev while held captive in the Crimea Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev is seen on a tape filmed by his son-in-law while the Soviet president was held captive in the Crimea during a failed coup attempt in the response to the proposal of a new Union Treaty. Editorial use only. All other uses to be cleared with the copyright owner (World History Archive), in advance., WHA_068_0922.jpg, Soviet President; Mikhail Gorbachev; tape; son-in-law; captive; Crimea; failed coup attempt; new Union Treaty; USSR; politics; historical; leader; Cold War; Russia; Soviet Union; 1991; government; footage; secret recording; political turmoil; power struggle; leadership; crisis; historical event; documentary; Copyright: xWorldxHistoryxArchivex
  • Nachdem bei einem Putsch in der Sowjetunion der Präsident Michail Gorbatschow abgesetzt wurde, demonstrieren in Berlin Menschen für sofortige Freilassung des unter Hausarrest stehenden Gorbatschow. Auch vor der sowjetischen Botschaft in Berlin versammeln sich Demonstranten. (Das Bild entstand vermutlich am 20.August 1991.) After President Mikhail Gorbachev was deposed in a coup in the Soviet Union, people in Berlin demonstrated for the immediate release of Gorbachev, who was under house arrest. Demonstrators also gathered in front of the Soviet Embassy in Berlin. (The photo was probably taken on August 20, 1991.) Reaktion auf Putsch in der Sowjetunion *** After President Mikhail Gorbachev was deposed in a coup in the Soviet Union, people snph01197.tif
  • Nachdem bei einem Putsch in der Sowjetunion der Präsident Michail Gorbatschow abgesetzt wurde, demonstrieren in Berlin Menschen für sofortige Freilassung des unter Hausarrest stehenden Gorbatschow. (Das Bild entstadn vermutlich am 19. oder 20 August) After President Mikhail Gorbachev was deposed in a coup in the Soviet Union, people in Berlin demonstrated for the immediate release of Gorbachev, who was under house arrest. (The picture was probably taken on August 19 or 20.) Reaktion auf Putsch in der Sowjetunion *** After President Mikhail Gorbachev was deposed in a coup in the Soviet Union, people in Berlin demonstrated for the immediate release of Gorbachev, who was under house arrest The picture was probably taken on August 19 or 20 Re snph01197.tif
  • Moscow, USSR. Participants of a mass rally in defense of democracy gather near the House of Soviets of the RSFSR after a failed attempt by members of the State Committee on the State of Emergency in the USSR to carry out a coup in the country. In order to prevent the signing of the Union Treaty which was supposed to replace the USSR with a new federation of sovereign states, members of the SCSE led by Vice-President of the USSR Gennady Yanayev removed the President of the USSR from power and introduced a state of emergency in the country. Alexander Chumichev TASS 32444932
  • Moscow, USSR. President of the RSFSR Boris Yeltsin (C) stands on the balcony of the House of Soviets of the RSFSR during a rally in defense of democracy after a failed attempt by members of the State Committee on the State of Emergency in the USSR to carry out a coup in the country. In order to prevent the signing of the Union Treaty which was supposed to replace the USSR with a new federation of sovereign states, members of the SCSE led by Vice-President of the USSR Gennady Yanayev removed the President of the USSR from power and introduced a state of emergency in the country. Alexander Chumichev TASS 32398916
  • Moscow, USSR. Protesting supporters of USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev and RSFSR President Boris Yeltsin confront the Taman Division soldiers at the Tchaikovsky Tunnel on the Garden ring at night August 20-21, 1991 after the announcement of the state of emergency in the country in an attempted coup. In order to prevent the signing of the Union Treaty, which has to replace the USSR by the new federation of sovereign states, the representatives of top Soviet leadership, headed by Vice-President of the USSR Gennady Yanayev removed the USSR President from power and created the State Committee on the State of Emergency (GKChP). Andrey Solovyov TASS 32444309
  • Moscow, USSR. Soldiers follow the column of the Taman Division infantry fighting vehicles in Minskoye Highway towards the place of permanent deployment after the State Committee on the State of Emergency (GKChP) failed coup attempt. In order to prevent the signing of the Union Treaty, which has to replace the USSR by the new federation of sovereign states, the representatives of top Soviet leadership, headed by Vice-President of the USSR Gennady Yanayev removed the USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev from power and declared state of emergency. Andrei Babushkin TASS 32444303
  • Moscow, USSR. Civilians gather near the armoured personnel carriers at the Moscow Arts Theatre during the State Committee on the State of Emergency (GKChP) members coup attempt. In order to prevent the signing of the Union Treaty, which has to replace the USSR by the new federation of sovereign states, the representatives of top Soviet leadership, headed by Vice-President of the USSR Gennady Yanayev removed the USSR President mikhail Gorbachev from power and declared state of emergency. Gennady Khamelyanin TASS 32444764
  • Moscow, USSR. Supporters of the demolition of the monument to Felix Dzerzhinsky, Soviet party and state leader, Soviet security services founder, on Lubyanka Square celebrate during its dismantling after the State Committee on the State of Emergency members headed by USSR Vice-President Gennady Yanayev failed their coup d etat attempt. Andrey Solovyov, Gennady Khamelyanin TASS 32444953
  • Nizhny Novgorod, USSR. Participants of the rally gather on Minin and Pozharsky Square in support of democratic forces after the failed State Committee on the State of Emergency members coup attempt. In order to prevent the signing of the Union Treaty, which has to replace the USSR by the new federation of sovereign states, the representatives of top Soviet leadership, headed by Vice-President of the USSR Gennady Yanayev removed the USSR President from power and declared state of emergency. Nikolai Moshkov TASS 19303640
  • Moscow, USSR. The monument to Soviet statesman Felix Dzerzhinsky is being dismantled on Lubyanskaya Square after a failed coup attempt by members of the State Committee for the State of Emergency headed by Vice-President of the USSR Gennady Yanayev. Andrey Solovyov, Gennady Khamelyanin TASS 32393039
  • Moscow, USSR. The monument to Soviet statesman Felix Dzerzhinsky is being dismantled on Lubyanskaya Square after a failed coup attempt by members of the State Committee for the State of Emergency headed by Vice-President of the USSR Gennady Yanayev. Sergei Mamontov TASS 11642471