76.4%March 17, 1991, in a Union-wide referendum 76.4 percent of voters endorsed retention of a reformed Soviet Union. |
72 hoursAugust 1991, Vice President Yanayev and seven hard-liners attempted to usurp control, but their attempted coup collapsed in less than three days. |
11 RepublicsSigned the Alma-Ata Protocol formally establishing the Commonwealth of Independent States on 21 December 1991. |
7:32 p.m.On Christmas evening 1991 the Soviet flag was lowered from the Kremlin for the last time and replaced with the pre-revolutionary Russian flag. |
142-НDeclaration by the Supreme Soviet that resulted in self-governing independence for the Republics of the USSR, formally dissolving the USSR on 26 December 1991. |