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preserve the USSR. Its signing was planned
on August, 20, 1991.
August, 1 George Bush, the President of the USA paid a
1991 visit to Kyiv. George Bush was scared of
“Balkanization” of the USSR and supported
the signing of the union treaty. It was to
restore the Soviet Union. He criticized “the
suicidal nationalism”.
August, 19-21 The attempt of coup d’etat in the USSR. The
1991 State Committee of Emergency Situations
was formed. G. Yanayev, O. Baklanov, V.
Kryuchkov, D. Pavlov, V. Puho, V.
Starodubtsev, O. Tiziakov and D. Yazov
became its members. It was a group of
conservative Communists, who tried not only
to slow down the process of democratic
changes, but also restore the USSR, the
totalitarian regime. General V. Varennikov
delivered an ultimatum to L. Kravchyuk about
introduction of martial law in Ukraine in case
there are any attempts to oppose SCES. L.
Kravchyuk took wait-and-see attitude and
appealed citizens to stay calm and continue
working. The CPU leaders supported the
SCES mutiny. The putsch ended in failure.
The SCES were arrested.

ТHЕМE 18. The independence of Ukraine. The formation and
building up of the Ukrainian state (1991-2010).

August, 24 The Supreme Council of Ukrainian Soviet
1991 Socialist Republic proclaimed the Act of
independence of Ukraine. It had to be

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