A Day That Shook The World: Communism's last gasp

Thursday 31 March 2011 13:04 BST

(AFP/Getty)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

On 4 October 1993, Boris Yeltsin gave the order to blast the last of the old Soviet hardliners out of the Russian parliament building.

The conspirators reckoned without the will of a people hungry for democratic reforms - crowds of Muscovites attempted to stop the tanks, creating a powderkeg situation.

Future premier Boris Yeltsin stepped into the breach, urging civilians to resist the architects of the coup and the army not to turn against the people. His intervention thwarted the attempt, and diffused the most revolutionary situation in Russia since the uprising of 1917.

Watch original British Pathe footage from the attempted coup, above.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

A Day That Shook The World: Communism's last gasp

Join our commenting forum

Thank you for registering