Boris Yeltsin

Moscow party secretary. Gorbachev's adversary, becomes Russian President in June 1991. Six months later he initiates the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Yegor Ligachev

Party chief in the Siberian region of Tomski for 18 years. Under Gorbachev he served as second secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and also one of the perestroika creator's chief ideologic detractors.

Viktor Chebrikov

Army general. Took on an important role in the KGB in 1967 and became its chairman in 1982. However, Gorbachev considered him a hindrance to his policies and replaced him in 1988.

Vladimir Kryuchkov

Army general. Was stationed in Hungary during the uprising at embassy in Budapest. In 1988, he became head of the KGB. He was jailed after his participation in the putsch against Gorbachev.

Andrei Gromkyo

Foreign minister of the Soviet Union for 28 years. Suggested Gorbachev as the new party chief in 1985 and shortly afterwards was bestowed with the position of head of state, an office lacking any influence.

Nikolai Ryzhkov

Industry chief who became prime minister under Gorbachev in 1985. Generally conservative, but proposed and failed in 1989 to pass a market economy reform package.