Russian Demonstrators Mark End Of Coup Attempt

About 200 demonstrators have marked the 20th anniversary of the end of a failed Soviet coup with a march in central Moscow.

The marchers today included some of Russia’s most prominent opposition figures, including former Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov and ex-world chess champion Garry Kasparov.

The demonstrators carried a 25-meter Russian flag and a banner reading “August 19-22, 1991 — We won’t give up our victory.”

The dates refer to the start and collapse of an attempt by Soviet hard-liners to overthrow Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, whose reforms they feared were leading to the collapse of the U.S.S.R.

Although the coup failed amid wide public resistance, the events hastened the end of the Soviet Union, which was formally disbanded four months later.

compiled from agency reports

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