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Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev
History of Russia

              

<
1931
Birth
2nd Mar Privolnoye Birth of Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev, Privolnoye, Stavropol krai, Nth Caucasus
1950
Communist Party
Appointedandidate Member of the Communist Party
1952
Communist Party
Moscow Appointed Member of the Communist Party
1952
Education
Sep Moscow Enters the Law Faculty of Moscow State University
1953
Marriage
25th Sep Moscow Marries Raisa Titorenko, a philosophy student at Moscow University
1955
Education
June Moscow Graduates from the Law Faculty at Moscow University
1955
Komsomol
Appointed Organizer of local Komsomol
1956
First Secretary
Sep Stavropol Appointed First Secretary of the Stravropol City Komsomol Committee
1958
Second Secretary
25th April Stavropol Appointed 2nd Secretary of the Komsomol Krai Committee
1961
First Secretary
Mar Stavropol Appointed First Secretary of the Komsomol Krai Committee
1962
Party Organizer
Mar Stavropol Appointedarty Organizer of a Territorial Production Association
1964
Education
Stavropol Enrols in the Stavropol Agricultural Institute
1967
Education
Stavropol Completes his agricultural degree
1970
First Secretary
Stavropol Appointed First Party Secretary, Stavropol kraikom
1971
Central Committee
Mar Moscow Appointed Member of the Central Committee
1978
Official
Moscow Appointed Official in charge of agricultural production, under Andropov
1978
Secretary CPSU
27th Nov Appointed Secretary for Agriculture of the CPSU Central Committee at its plenum
1979
Politburo
26th Dec Moscow Appointed Member of the Politburo, Candidate Member
1980
Politburo
Moscow Appointed Member of the Politburo
1984
Diplomacy
Moscow Makes a positive impression on Thatcher, "A man I can do business with"
1st Jan France gets its 1st delivery of Soviet natural gas
10th Feb Russia & China sign a $1.2 billion trade agreement
16th Dec Moscow Visits Margaret Thatcher at her invitation as an up & coming leader
1984
Economy
Russian growth is %2.6, lowest since World War II
10th Feb Russia & China sign a $1.2 billion trade agreement
1984
Reform
10th Dec Moscow Makes a conference speech supporting reform & introducing "perestroika" & "glasnost"
1985
Armament
7th April Russia announces a unilateral freeze of medium-range nuclear missiles
1985
Burial
13th Mar Moscow Leads the funeral procession
1985
Conference of Geneva
19th Nov Geneva 1st meets President Reagan, later describes him as a "political dinosaur"
21st Nov Geneva Meets President Reagan to speed up arms control & renew cultural relations
21st Nov Geneva Russia & the USAagree not to "achieve military superiority"
21st Nov Geneva Russia & the USAagree "nuclear war cannot be won"
1985
Diplomacy
14th April Bitburg Pravda calls Regan's visit to Bitburg Nazi cemetry an "act of blasphemy"
1985
Economy
Moscow Reduces vodka production by 60% & increases its price by 200% by 6 months in office
1985
General Secretary
10th Mar Moscow Appointed General Secretary of the Communist Party
10th Mar Moscow Appointed President of Russia
10th Mar Moscow The Politburo vote to appoint Gorbachev as Chernenko's successor
11th Mar Moscow The Communist Party plenum ratify Gorbachev's succession
1985
Nuclear Warfare
7th April Russia announces a unilateral freeze of medium-range nuclear missiles
8th April Moscow Announces the suspension of the deployment of SS-20 missiles in Europe
8th April Announces the suspension of the deployment of SS-20 missiles in Europe
21st Nov Geneva Meets Reagan to discuss arms control
21st Nov Meets Reagan to discuss arms control
21st Nov Geneva Russia & the USA agree not to "achieve military superiority"
21st Nov Geneva Russia & the USA agree "nuclear war cannot be won"
1985
President
10th Mar Appointed President of the Supreme Soviet
1986
Congress of Peoples Deputies
Moscow Creates a Parliament called the Congress of People's Deputies
1986
Demonstrations
9th April Tbilisi Disorders in Tbilisi, 20 demonstrators are killed by Soviet troops
Dec Alma Disorders in Alma
1986
Diplomacy
Begins a series of summit meetings with President Reagan
1986
Disaster
14th May Chernobyl Speaks on Russian TV because radiation levels can be measured in the west
1986
Economy
Moscow Attempts to prevent private enterprise on the black market
1986
General Secretary
Moscow Appointed Member of the Politburo
1986
Nuclear Warfare
9th Jan Announces a 15 yr timetable for the abolition of all nuclear weapons
26th April Chernobyl Reporting restrictions are restored, only Tass bulletins are published
26th April Reporting restrictions are restored, only Tass bulletins are published
14th May Chernobyl Speaks on Russian TV because radiation levels can be measured in the west
1986
Reform
Moscow A law against unearned income is passed
Moscow Attempts to prevent private enterprise on the black market
Nov Moscow Legislation is passed allowing free enterprise
1987
Anniversary
2nd Nov Moscow In the 70th Anniversary speech says Stalin's crimes were "enormous & unforgiveable"
1987
Armament
14th April Moscow Proposes cuts to the USAby offering to remove short range missiles from Eastern Europe
1987
Arrest
Feb Moscow Gorbachev & Sakharov meet publicly in Moscow at the International Peace Forum
1987
Congress of CP, 27th
Feb Moscow 27th Party Congress
1987
Constitution
Jan Moscow Proposes elections for party officials, a practice which is soon adopted
Mar Moscow Pravda announces larger constituencies & more candidates than seats in local elections
1987
Diplomacy
Moscow The Comecon agrees to discuss co-operation with the European Community
14th April Moscow Proposes removing Russia's short range missiles from Eastern Europe
Dec Washington Gorbachev pays a visit to the USA
1987
Dismissal
Nov Moscow Gorbachev dismisses Yeltsin as Moscow party chief
1987
Economy
Feb Moscow Creates co-operative businesses in catering, services & consumer goods manafacture
1987
Election
Mar Pravda uses the word "democracy" for "multi-candidate" elections
1987
Invasion of Afghanistan
Moscow Russian forces begin to withdraw from Afghanistan
20th July The withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan is announced
1987
Invasion of Angola
Moscow Agrees with President Reagan that Russia & the USAshould reach a settlement on Angola
1987
Nuclear Warfare
28th Feb Moscow Drops his insistence on the curtailment of the USASDI program
28th Feb Moscow Proposes a separate agreement on abolition of medium range nuclear missiles in Europe
14th April Moscow Proposes removing Russia's short range missiles from Eastern Europe
14th April Proposes removing Russia's short range missiles from Eastern Europe
1987
Publication
"Perestroika", argues that national union is the greatest achievement of socialism
1987
Reform
Moscow New law on "socialist enerprise"
Feb Moscow Creates co-operative businesses in catering, services & consumer goods manafacture
1st May Moscow Legislation allowing free enterprise comes into effect
1987
Treaty of Nuclear
8th Dec Moscow A treaty is signed ending all intermediate-range nuclear weapons in Europe
1988
Accords of Geneva Pakistan
Geneva Pakistan and Afghanistan, with the United States and Soviet Union serving as guarantors, sign an agreement settling the major differences between them known as the Geneva Accords
1988
Chairman Presidium
Moscow Appointed Chairman of the Presidium of the USSR Supreme Soviet, Head of State
1988
Conference of Communist Party
28th June Address es a special Communist Party conference & outlines "a new image of socialism"
1988
Conference of Moscow
May Moscow INF treaty ratification documents are exchanged between Russia & the USA
May Moscow The 4th meeting between Reagan & Gorbachev
1988
Congress of People's Deputies
29th Nov The Supreme Soviet agrees to the foundation of the Congress of People's Deputies
1988
Constitution
Oct Glasnost leads to the USSR Supreme Soviet dissenting with the Politburo & Central Comm
29th Nov The Congress of People's Deputies will be elected except for 750 nominated by the CPSU
29th Nov The Congress of People's Deputies will elect the Supreme Soviet
29th Nov Moscow The Congress of People's Deputies will elect the Supreme Soviet
29th Nov The Congress of People's Deputies will have 2,250 members
29th Nov The Supreme Soviet abolishes itself
29th Nov The Supreme Soviet agrees to the foundation of the Congress of People's Deputies
1988
Demonstrations
Feb Yerevan About a million Armenians demonstrate for Armenian reunification
Mar Sumgait Crowds of Azeris rampage through the city of Sumgait, at least 32 Armenians are killed
1988
Election
29th Nov The Congress of People's Deputies will elect the Supreme Soviet
1988
Invasion of Afghanistan
7th April Moscow Announces Russia's withdrawal from Afghanistan
1988
Massacre Armenians
1st Mar Azerbaijan Takes place in Azerbaijan after a conflict with Muslim Azerbaijanis
1988
Massacre Sumgait
Sumgait The Azeri attack the Armenians & in Sumgait at least 32 Armenians are killed
1988
Perestroika
28th June Moscow Address es a special Communist Party conference & outlines "a new image of socialism"
1988
President
Appointed President of Russia, has a power base outside the Communist Party
1988
Reform
Moscow Removes the Party from economic management
9th Jan 1st advertisement in a Soviet newspaper appears in Izvestiya
28th June Moscow Address es a special Communist Party conference & outlines "a new image of socialism"
1988
Rule of Nagorny
20th Feb Nagorny The Nagorny-Karabakh Soviet votes for a transfer to Armenia
1988
Supreme Soviet
29th Nov Moscow The Congress of People's Deputies will elect the Supreme Soviet
29th Nov The Supreme Soviet abolishes itself
1989
Chemical Weapons
8th Jan Russia promises to eliminate stockpiles of chemical weapons
1989
Constitution
Moscow In front of the Central Committtee says Russia must be restructured
Moscow The Head of the Presidium officially is recognized as the President of Russia
Mar Moscow The USSR Supreme Soviet is replaced by the USSR Congress of Peoples Deputies
Mar Yeltsin's presence in the Supreme Soviet's Chamber of People's Deputies provided a focus for the reformist minority, the legislature becomes a more pluralist body than Gorbachev intends
1989
Demonstrations
Feb Nagorno Disorders in in Nagorno-Karabakh, ethnic conflicts
Dec Moscow The Czech government resigns in the wake of mass demonstrations
1989
Destruction Berlin Wall
9th Nov Moscow The Berlin wall falls & demonstrations of German unity are held in the DDR
Dec Berlin Mitterand visits Gorbachev in Kiev to to try & delay the fall of the Berlin Wall
1989
Diplomacy
Malta Meets Bush in a warship off Malta, tells him Russia no longer sees the USAas an enemy
8th Jan Russia promises to eliminate stockpiles of chemical weapons
Nov Vatican The 1st Soviet leader to visit the Vatican
Dec Kiev Mitterand visits Gorbachev in Kiev to try & delay the fall of the Berlin Wall
1989
Election
Mar Communist Party members have to stand in elections for the 1st time ever
Mar Elections for the Congress of People's Deputies, 80% of candidates are CPSU members
Mar Fails to support Yeltsin against the conservatives, leads to Gorbachev's downfall
1989
General Secretary
Moscow Appointed President of Russia, Head of the Presidium
1989
Independence
Moscow Namibia proclaims its independence after Cuba withdraws
Nov Lithuania 1st national movement, Sajudis, is formed in Lithuania
1989
Invasion of Afghanistan
Malta Meets Bush in a warship off Malta, tells him Russia does not regard the USAas an enemy
Moscow Russian forces complete their withdrawal from Afghanistan
5th Feb Russia announces that all but a small rear-guard contingent of its troops had left Afghanistan
15th Feb Moscow 14,454 Russians had died in the conflict
15th Feb Moscow Russian withdrawal signifies a Mujahadin victory
15th Feb Moscow The last Russian troops withdraw from Afghanistan
1989
Rebellion
19th Mar Tashkent A demonstration of 10,000 in Tashkent wish to make Uzbek their state language
9th April Tiblisi A Nationalist demonstration is suppressed by army intervention
23rd Aug Tallin Popular Fronts form a chain from Vilnius to Tallin, day of the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact
23rd Aug Vilnius Popular Fronts form a chain from Vilnius to Tallin, day of the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact
23rd Aug Tallin Popular Fronts form a human chain from Vilnius to Tallin
23rd Aug Tallin The day of the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact
1989
Resignation
Dec Moscow The Czech government resigns in the wake of mass demonstrations
22nd Dec Moscow The Romanian Government is overthrown
1989
Strike
July Miners go on strike
1989
Unification
9th Nov Moscow The Berlin wall falls & demonstrations of German unity are held in the DDR
1990
Blockade of Baltic States
Moscow The Baltic States are blockaded by Russia while the USA turns a blind eye
1990
Chairman Constitutional Commission
Moscow Appointed Chair of the Constitutional Committee elected by the CPD
1990
Constitution
Moscow Chairs a committee elected by the CPD to replace the 1977 constitution
7th Feb Moscow The Cental Committee of the CP in USSR votes to end the CP political monopoly
15th Mar Sworn in as the 1st executive President of the USSR
8th June Moscow Russian Parliament votes its laws take precedence over the USSR
12th June Moscow The Russian Federation declares itself a sovereign state
1990
Diplomacy
Moscow Gorbachev agrees to East & West Germany having a single NATO force
May Moscow Visits the USA & is offerred financial aid
1990
Economy
Moscow Triples bread prices in order to move toward a "regulated market economy"
1990
Election
Elected Head of State by the Congress of People's Deputies
Elections are held after the USA & Russia agree not to support Contras & Sandanistas
Reformers & Popular Fronts sweep to victory to the Supreme Soviet of the Union
Mar "Democratic Russia" wins 56% of seats in the city soviet
Mar "Democratic Russia" wins 85% of the seats in the Congress of People's Deputies
Mar Radical groups win in the cities & many prominent party officials are defeated
8th June Yeltsin is elected President of Russia, the largest Republic
28th Oct Georgia Non Communist Parties triumph in elections in Georgia & call for independence
1990
Inauguration of Gorbachev
15th Mar Sworn in as the 1st executive President of the USSR
1990
Independence
26th Feb Russia agrees to withdraw troops from Czech by July 1991
11th Mar Lithuania Lithuania becomes the 1st republic to declare independence
11th Mar Moscow Lithuania declares independence in accordance with it's constitution of 1938
22nd Mar Moscow Warns Lithuania to withdraw its declaration of independence but it refuses
4th May Estonia Estonia votes to secede from the USSR
4th May Latvia Latvia votes to secede from the USSR
20th June Uzbekistan Uzbekistan declares independence
16th July Ukraine The Ukrainian Parliament votes for sovereignty
28th Oct Georgia Non Communist Parties triumph in elections in Georgia & call for independence
1990
Invasion of Lithuania
25th Mar Russia sends in the tanks to discourage secession
1990
Massacre Katyn
13th April Katyn The Kremlin admits to the massacre of 15,000 Polish army officers by the NKVD in 1940
1990
Nobel Prize
For campaigning for human rights in Myanmar