2RR:3 Yeltsin File I

Gorbachev takes cautious steps to dismantle the roadblocks to reform, while Boris Yeltsin, Moscow's party leader, grows impatient and breaks ranks. Once friend to the Communist party, Yeltsin will soon tear apart the official line of perastroika. His actions were not without their consequences during the Second Russian Revolution.

This is part of the award-winning documentary "The Second Russian Revolution", made in 1989-1991, at the same time the Soviet Union was undergoing complete social and political metamorphosis. It details the years following the death of Brezhnev, and rise and fall of Mikhail Gorbachev, up to the coup in 1991. The most amazing thing about it is hearing formerly party line-toeing aparachiks letting loose and speaking their minds.

In an interview, producer Brian Lapping said, "When we first went to Moscow and said we were going to get the members of the Politburo to talk, journalists and heads of institutes in Moscow said that no one in the Politburo ever talks in public about whatever happens in the Politburo. They just don't do that. I still look back with amazement that we got several Politburo members to tell us stories of the inside events of the Gorbachev years. And in the end, the head of the KGB, who came to our launch party, said angrily to us, "Why did you not invite me to be part of your program?" To which I had to reply, "We invited you for 18 months, regularly phoning your office, and you would not talk us. That's why you are not in the program." (WorldScreen.com, 10/01)

This series doesn't seem to be available in any form, unfortunately. It's a documentary masterpiece. Sorry about the poor quality video and missing bits--it's about 15 years old.

Produced by Brian Lapping (Brian Lapping Associates Ltd)

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Gorbachev
• Yeltsin
• Moscow
• Ligachev
• Soviet
• Russia
• documentary

[nevilleprinsloo]

In a way, Gorbachev was like de Klerk.

[1040655]

I saw it just some minutes ago in one of the 18 parts of this docu-movie: try the words -- Deutschlandspiel Censor News -- on youtube

I hope that helps you...

[E155]

Does anyone know where the footage of the motorcade entering the Kremlin is from? Can it be found elsewhere on YouTube?

[valgehiir]

Was Gorbachev really pushing Jeltsin out?

Or was this a game they playd together at the congress, knowing the new electoral system will catapult Jeltsin to power and Ligatchev will be history