The Russian Communist Party organized a special event in connection with the anniversary of the August coup against Gorbachev in 1991. The newspaper “Nezavisimaya Gazeta” drew attention to this event and asked some questions.
The headline of the article is “THE COMMUNISTS HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN AUGUST 1991“, but could be “It is not easy to fight the liberals when there is no liberalism“
Some paragraphs of the article in translation below:
On the 34th anniversary of the August coup in 1991, the CPRF group in the Russian Duma (CPRF = Russian Communist Party) gathered for a round table discussion in the Column Hall of the House of Trade Unions on “Bolshoy Dmitrovka” in Moscow. The theme was “The CPRF group in the fight for the integrity of the country – against a liberal ‘fifth columnist!’” The communists themselves emphasized that the event had been commissioned for the anniversary of the August events of 1991. Despite the fact that the communists are the losing side, only they paid attention to this date. Experts believe that this is an emotional theme for the left, but there are no heirs to the “victorious democrats” in the political arena in Russia today.
The roundtable on August 19 was organized by the CPRF group, and it was the members of the second chamber who spoke. At the same time, the CPRF had announced a protest action at the “Yeltsin Center” in Moscow on August 21. In doing so, other political forces largely ignored the 34th anniversary of the coup. This applies to the ruling party United Russia, as well as “Yabloko” and “Novye Ljudi”, although both of these structures are considered liberals in some way and could claim to be called “victors”. The Party of Justice also did not make a mark, despite their love for the Soviet Union, nor did the LDPR, whose founder Vladimir Zhirinovsky, while he was alive, often recalled the events of the early 90s.
The head of the analytical board of the CPRF, Sergei Obukhov, explained to NG: “It’s not about dates. It’s about political moments. Now the liberals in power, who saw new opportunities to sort out contacts with the West after the meeting of the American and Russian presidents, are being activated. You even heard people exclaim: “Trump is ours!” And the socio-economic bloc is completely liberal. Therefore, we demand a change of course, a turn to the left. During the entire time that has passed since the August events, our position has not lost its relevance, on the contrary.”
The Center for the Analysis of Russian Political Culture (TsIPKR) released a paper today: “Perestroika, the August Coup and the Third Destruction of Historical Russia: Is a Repetition of the Elite’s Betrayal Possible?” The paper recalls that there have been three significant upheavals in Russian history: first, the upheavals of the early 17th century, then the end of the monarchy after the abdication of the Tsar in February 1917, and third, the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The paper outlines the reasons for the failure of the August Coup: the indecision of the coup plotters (they did not arrest President Boris Yeltsin), the split within the elite (part of the KGB secretly supported Yeltsin), the propagandistic disaster of the coup (the broadcast of “Swan Lake” on TV), and the paralysis of the party apparatus (the failure of the Moscow Committee of the Communist Party to mobilize people on the streets).
Author Sergei Abukhov concludes that lessons must be learned from the events in order to avoid risks for contemporary Russia. Among the risk factors are: “a crisis of confidence in the authorities, who are currently betting on high opinion polls for the president,” and also “the consumer psychology of the elite,” some of whom still want to exchange resources according to the principle of “what is most in demand in the West.” “Without alternative civilized projects, Russia risks being neutralized as a backward province of global capitalism,” the report says. In other words, the communists want a sovereign ideology to be formed in the country.
Today, these threats are blocked by the strict stance of the security forces and the consolidation of society around the SMO (= the special military operation). The Communists have come to the conclusion that anything is possible when it comes to the elites, therefore the great threat is a restoration of the 1991 scenario. “Without a strong-willed political subject (like the CPSS, but renewed), even a patriotic security force can suffer defeat by a minority that has resources in the IT and financial areas.”
The Secretary of the Central Committee of the Russian Communist Party, Igor Makarov, notes: “In essence, the August coup of 1991 was a much-rehearsed and carefully planned top-secret operation to annihilate the Soviet Communist Party and overthrow the USSR. The purpose of this event is not only to once again recall the tragic events, but to be able to draw objective lessons for the future.”
“NG” asked an expert why only the “losing” communists recalled this date, especially since it is not an even date, and where are the victors?
First Vice President of the Center for Political Practice, Alexei Makarkin, reminded “NG” that on the even date, the Communists will be busy with the elections to the State Duma in 2026. “In doing so, the Communists will assume that although there is no longer any liberalism in politics, the liberals have nevertheless remained in power and are implementing their economic course. Therefore, the Communists, on the one hand, appeal to the authorities, and on the other hand, they distance themselves from the liberals, by actualizing the events that once took place,” says Makarkin. The expert explains why Gennady Zyuganov’s party is doing this: “Previously, the communists often cooperated with the opposition outside the system and with the liberals, and they squeezed out results by influencing the number of votes. But now are different times. And the Russian Communist Party, no matter how tough the times are, is an opposition party and must maintain freedom of action in order to cooperate with the part of the electorate that is protesting. Therefore, the communists are sending a signal to the government that they are criticizing the government from patriotic positions,” he emphasized.
But despite all this, according to the political scientist, and despite the fact that decades have passed, the theme remains emotional and relevant for the CPRF, which has declared itself the heir to the Soviet Communist Party. It is especially relevant for ideologically active people, and for those whose youth coincided with perestroika. “Immediately after the coup, the collapse of the Soviet Union occurred, this trauma has not yet subsided, and the communists are still processing the lessons that can be drawn from those events, and they dream of how they would have acted if time could be turned back,” the expert said. So, on the one hand, the event appeals to the Soviet nostalgia of supporters and voters, and on the other hand, to the feelings of active people, who show a fighting spirit and ponder how Gorbachev could have been removed,” Makarkin suggests.
But for the LDPR and Justice Party electorates, this is already history, even though both of these parties, as well as the Communists, regret that the August coup failed.
At the same time, the expert reminds that there are no direct heirs to the victory over the coup plotters in the political arena today – the democratic parties have either been dissolved or have not been registered at all. “Novye Ljudi” (= New People) have in every way emphasized what novices they are, distancing themselves from historical events. By all accounts, there is only one exception, and that is “Yabloko”, whose members then supported Boris Yeltsin and stood up against the coup. But even for Yabloko supporters, the anniversary of the defense of the White House is no reason for joy, they were disappointed with the socio-economic course and “shock therapy” after the victory of the democrats. Unlike the CPRF, Yabloko supporters cannot imagine how they could have acted differently, it is an uncomfortable topic for them. Therefore, today there are only representatives of one side of the conflict that existed then.
One side – those who are for the preservation of the Soviet Union, or at least against its ever being dissolved. Strange times in Russia – after the victory over communism and the Soviet dictatorship 34 years ago, there are no victors left.
Strange times everywhere
subsequent 