Soviet leader saved and first metro line opens in St. Petersburg, two events that made this day in Russian history.
Close shave for Gorbachev
Taking part in a parade on today’s date in 1990 nearly cost the last Soviet leader his life.
While Michael Gorbachev was watching the show, one of the marchers pulled out a sawn-off shotgun and tried to shoot him in the head.
That was factory worker Alexander Shmonov, who thought Gorbachev was standing in the way of democracy, he missed when a police officer grab the weapon.
He was deemed mentally ill and spent four years in a psychiatric ward.
He is now a human-rights activist.
Metro opens in St. Petersburg
On this day in 1955, the first trains of the St. Petersburg metro started operating.
At first there was just one short line; now there are five lines and 64 stations.
Several new stations are currently being built. One of them, called “Admiralteyskaya,” will become the deepest in Russia – it is going to be 84 metres under ground.