Coup-de-fail: Last nail in Soviet Union's coffin

On August 19th twenty years ago Muscovites had tanks rolling past their windows as a state of emergency was imposed. A group of hard-line Communist officials attempted to seize power to prevent reforms that eventually led to the break-up of the Soviet Union. But as RT's Tom Barton reports, despite the dramatic events unfolding in the capital, many were being kept in the dark.

• 2011-08-19T18:08:24+00:00
• Duration: 03:50

Share

Keywords

News & Politics , Tom Barton , coup, Soviet Union , reforms , Moscow, Russia , post communist , Gorbachev , Gorby, Yeltsyn, White house , democracy, news, vidoe, performnace