A sculptor's workshop: busts of former Soviet leaders Joseph Stalin, Nikita Khrushchev and Leonid Brezhnev.21.01.1990#6727231
The second Congress of USSR People's Deputies (December 12-24, 1989). General Secretary of the USSR Communist Party Central Committee, Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev with the delegates of the congress during a break between sessions. Kremlin Palace of Congresses (now the State Kremlin Palace).22.12.1989#6633993
The 2nd Congress of USSR People's Deputies (December 12-24, 1989). Mikhail Gorbachev, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, speaks.22.12.1989#6645384
The second Congress of USSR People's Deputies (December 12-24, 1989), where the radical minority headed by Boris Yeltsin after the death of Andrei Sakharov demanded the abolition of Article 6 of the USSR Constitution, which stated that "the USSR Communist Party is the leading and guiding force" in the state. In turn, the conservative majority pointed to the destabilizing disintegration processes in the USSR and, consequently, the need to strengthen the powers of the center (the Soyuz group). Center: Vadim Medvedev, Soviet scientist and economist, Ph.D. in Economics, member of the USSR Communist Party Executive Committee Politburo, Kremlin Palace of Congresses (now the State Kremlin Palace).20.12.1989#6633994
The second Congress of USSR People's Deputies (December 12-24, 1989), where the radical minority headed by Boris Yeltsin after the death of Andrei Sakharov demanded the abolition of Article 6 of the USSR Constitution, which stated that "the USSR Communist Party is the leading and guiding force" in the state. In turn, the conservative majority pointed to the destabilizing disintegration processes in the USSR and, consequently, the need to strengthen the powers of the center (the Soyuz group). The deputy asks a question from the floor during the discussion. Kremlin Palace of Congresses (now the State Kremlin Palace).20.12.1989#6633990
The 2nd Congress of USSR People's Deputies (December 12-24, 1989). The delegates discussed the abolition of the Soviet Constitution's Article 6 on the guiding role of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Nikolai Travkin, a member of the Coordinating Council of the Inter-Regional Deputies Group of the Congress of USSR People's Deputies.20.12.1989#6645391
The 2nd Congress of USSR People's Deputies (December 12-24, 1989). The delegates discussed the abolition of the Soviet Constitution's Article 6 on the guiding role of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. People's Deputy Gennady Filshin, DSc (Economics), speaks. Background left: Mikhail Gorbachev, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Far right: Anatoly Lukyanov, First Deputy Speaker of the USSR Supreme Soviet (Parliament).15.12.1989#6645393
Lana Gogoberidze, Georgian film director and screenwriter, People's Actress of the Georgian SSR. In the late 1980s, she left her job to go into policy.06.11.1989#6566939
Nikolai Medvedev, Greek-born Lithuanian and Soviet politician (real name Varikopulos), deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Was active in Sajudis (a social and political organization in Lithuania, which led the former Soviet republic's secession and restoration of the independence of the Republic of Lithuania in 1988-1990; originally, the Lithuanian Perestroika Movement).01.11.1989#6565248
Vladimir Shenayev, Deputy Director of USSR Academy of Sciences' European Studies Institute.30.10.1989#6561816
Rein Veidemann, one of the leaders of the Estonian Popular Front. The Estonian Popular Front was founded in April 1988 to support perestroika. Formally, it was not a political party but a national movement.30.10.1989#6561811
The performance Caligula, based on the play by Albert Camus, also called Fantastic, on the stage of Planetarium Theater, established at the Moscow Planetarium in 1989. Directed by Oleg Osetinsky and starring French actor Laurent Chanteau.27.10.1989#6558239
French actor Laurent Chantreau, background center, as Caligula in the stage play "Caligula," based on the eponymous play by Albert Camus and directed by Oleg Osetinsky at Moscow Planetarium's Planetarium Theater (Fantastic Theater), which was opened in 1989.27.10.1989#6558236
Actor Mikhail Mamayev as Court Poet in the stage play "Caligula," based on the eponymous play by Albert Camus and directed by Oleg Osetinsky at Moscow Planetarium's Planetarium Theater (Fantastic Theater), which was opened in 1989.27.10.1989#6558230
French actor Laurent Chantreau as Caligula in the stage play "Caligula," based on the eponymous play by Albert Camus and directed by Oleg Osetinsky at Moscow Planetarium's Planetarium Theater (Fantastic Theater), which was opened in 1989.27.10.1989#6558228
USSR Deputy Minister of Justice Vladimir Gubarev, left, and Observer of the Novosti Press Agency (today Rossiya Segodnya) Alexander Drabkin.26.10.1989#6633987
The Law on Cooperation of May 26, 1988 made it possible to establish private companies in the Soviet Union. The cooperative sector and private businesses started developing rapidly. Creative individuals, including musicians, artists, writers and journalists, did not shy away from commercial operations either. Vladimir Maximov conceived the popular television programs Public Opinion and Music Ring. In 1989, he and his wife Tamara Maximova established TV-Neva, the country's first private independent television company.19.10.1989#6556168
The Law on Cooperation of May 26, 1988 made it possible to establish private companies in the Soviet Union. The cooperative sector and private businesses started developing rapidly. Creative individuals, including musicians, artists, writers and journalists, did not shy away from commercial operations either. Vladimir Maximov conceived the popular television programs Public Opinion and Music Ring. In 1989, he and his wife Tamara Maximova established TV-Neva, the country's first private independent television company.19.10.1989#6556166
Viktor Girshenfeld, Representative of the Public Diplomacy Group at the Organizing Committee of the Moscow Popular Front, a local public-political organization that was established for overhauling the Soviet Union and which functioned in 1988-1990.03.10.1989#6566942
Margarita Bunkina, an economist working at the Institute of Social Sciences of the Soviet Communist Party Central Committee and author of textbooks for university students, including National Economy, Macroeconomics, Monetarism and others.03.10.1989#6566940
Officers of the Main Public Order Protection Directorate of RSFSR Interior Ministry have exposed a criminal den in a Moscow apartment.02.10.1989#6562756
The Law on Cooperation of May 26, 1988 made it possible to establish private companies in the Soviet Union. The cooperative sector and private businesses started developing rapidly. Creative individuals, including musicians, artists, writers and journalists, did not shy away from commercial operations either. Private publishing houses were established and allowed writers, like this one from Leningrad, to publish books at their own expense.25.09.1989#6556157
The Law on Cooperation dated May 26, 1988 allowed for establishing private enterprises in the USSR, triggering a booming growth of the cooperative sector in the economy and private entrepreneurship. Leningrad artists sell their paintings on one of the city boulevards. They also offer to draw a customer's portrait in half an hour with a pencil or pastel.25.09.1989#6556148
Karin Labelle, a representative of France's Karin Models Agency, during the 1st All-Union Miss Photo USSR 1989 Competition.01.09.1989#6566938
Yevgeny Kogan, one of the leaders of the Estonian Intermovement. The international workers' movement of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic (Intermovement) was a political movement (opponent of the Popular Front) and organization in Estonian founded on July 19, 1988. Movement supporters had conservative and communist views and fought for preserving the Soviet Union and its territorial integrity.30.08.1989#6561824
The Law on Cooperation of May 26, 1988 made it possible to establish private companies in the Soviet Union. The cooperative sector and private businesses started developing rapidly. Many people in possession of video cassette recorders that were still in scare supply began to open private video salons showing just about any Western movie. Billboards at the entrance to one such video salon.25.08.1989#6556151
The Law on Cooperation dated May 26, 1988 allowed for establishing private enterprises in the USSR, triggering a booming growth of the cooperative sector in the economy and private entrepreneurship. Leningrad photographers started a business offering tourists to be photographed against the background of the State Hermitage.25.08.1989#6556147
Baltic Way, a peaceful action in the Baltic republics of the USSR held on August 23, 1989. The Popular Fronts of the Lithuanian SSR, Latvian SSR and Estonian SSR organized a human chain of solidarity across all three republics. Baltic Chain in Estonia.23.08.1989#6561822
Baltic Way, a peaceful action in the Baltic republics of the USSR held on August 23, 1989. The Popular Fronts of the Lithuanian SSR, Latvian SSR and Estonian SSR organized a human chain of solidarity across all three republics. Baltic Chain in Estonia.23.08.1989#6561815
One of the first joint ventures in Russia, Sune Medical Interline Intermedservice, was established In Moscow. It supplies foreign medical equipment to Russia. As a result, the Swiss-Hungarian dental outpatient clinic Dentalcoop was opened in Moscow. The firm's director Mr. Tepli (right) with his business partners.01.08.1989#6542981
One of the first joint ventures, Sune Medical Interline Intermedservice, created in Moscow to supply foreign medical equipment to Russia. As a result, the Swiss-Hungarian dental clinic Dentalcoop opened in Moscow. Second right: Director of Dentalcoop T. Tepli.01.08.1989#6542976
A US delegation of military experts led by Chair of the US House of Representatives Armed Forces Committee Les Aspin in the USSR. Delegation member John Hammond, former director of the SDI energy program (Strategic Defense Initiative, nicknamed Star Wars program).01.07.1989#6560675
Chair of the US House of Representatives Armed Forces Committee Les Aspin, head of the US delegation of military experts in the USSR.01.07.1989#6560673
A US delegation of military experts led by Chair of the US House of Representatives Armed Forces Committee Les Aspin in the USSR. Delegation member James Bilbrey, congressman from Democrats.01.07.1989#6560672
A US delegation of military experts led by Chair of the US House of Representatives Armed Forces Committee Les Aspin in the USSR. A delegation member (it included over 30 experts).01.07.1989#6560671
A US delegation of military experts led by Chair of the US House of Representatives Armed Forces Committee Les Aspin in the USSR. Delegation member Col. John Francis Kelly.01.07.1989#6560670
A US delegation of military experts led by Chair of the US House of Representatives Armed Forces Committee Les Aspin, third on the right, in the USSR. A test range of the Ukrainian SSR armed forces, located 30 km north-west of Lviv, in the Yavoriv district of the Lviv region (now the International Center for Peacekeeping and Security of the Hetman Pyotr Sagaidachny National Academy of Ground Forces).01.07.1989#6560669
A US delegation of military experts led by Chair of the US House of Representatives Armed Forces Committee Les Aspin in the USSR. American experts examine Soviet military facilities.01.07.1989#6560668
A US delegation of military experts led by Chair of the US House of Representatives Armed Forces Committee Les Aspin in the USSR. After a demonstration of the laser installation at the Center for Physical Tool Engineering of the Institute of General Physics of the USSR Academy of Sciences (now Prokhorov Institute, RAS) in the city of Troitsk.01.07.1989#6560667
A US delegation of military experts led by Chair of the US House of Representatives Armed Forces Committee Les Aspin in the USSR. Delegation member L. Hopkins, congressman from Republicans.01.07.1989#6560666
A US delegation of military experts led by Chair of the US House of Representatives Armed Forces Committee Les Aspin in the USSR. Delegation member, expert Deborah Lee.01.07.1989#6560665
A US delegation of military experts led by Chair of the US House of Representatives Armed Forces Committee Les Aspin in the USSR. Delegation member Military Attache D. Canyok.01.07.1989#6560663
A US delegation of military experts led by Chair of the US House of Representatives Armed Forces Committee Les Aspin in the USSR. Delegation member Henry Bateman, congressman from the Republicans.01.07.1989#6560660
Chair of the US House of Representatives Armed Forces Committee Les Aspin, head of a US delegation of military experts and congressmen in the USSR.01.07.1989#6560659
A US delegation of military experts led by Chair of the US House of Representatives Armed Forces Committee Les Aspin, first on the right at the table, in the USSR. American guests at the Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the USSR.01.07.1989#6560656
A US delegation of military experts led by Chair of the US House of Representatives Armed Forces Committee Les Aspin, center, in the USSR. Guests at the Molniya research enterprise after examining the Soviet orbital spacecraft Buran of the reusable transport space system, which the foreign experts believed to be a response to a similar American Space Shuttle project.01.07.1989#6560655
A US delegation of military experts led by Chair of the US House of Representatives Armed Forces Committee Les Aspin in the USSR. Guests examine the construction of another Soyuz vessel (Soyuz is a family of Soviet and Russian multi-seat manned transport spacecraft that served to send crews to the International Space Station) at the Korolyov Rocket and Space Corporation Energiya in the town of Korolyov, Moscow Region.01.07.1989#6560653
A Soviet-American workshop for entrepreneurs organized by the agency supporting initiatives and pioneer projects of the USSR Ministry of Culture and the Crosscurrents International Institute and the Torn non-profit (May 24 - June 3, 1989). Participants outside the Odessa Opera and Ballet Theater. Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.30.05.1989#6560674
A Soviet-American seminar on creative leadership organized by the USSR Ministry of Culture's Agency for Support of Initiatives and Pioneer Projects and the Crosscurrents International Institute, and the Torn NGO (May 24 - June 3, 1989). Seminar participants from France.30.05.1989#6561814
May 24-June 3, 1989. Participants in the Soviet-American Seminar for Enterprising Managers, organized by the Agency for Supporting Initiative and Pioneering Projects of the Soviet Ministry of Culture and the International Institute Cross-Currents International in collaboration with Torn non-governmental and non-profit organization. Photo: A guided tour of the city.28.05.1989#8120972
May 24-June 3, 1989. Participants in the Soviet-American Seminar for Enterprising Managers, organized by the Agency for Supporting Initiative and Pioneering Projects of the Soviet Ministry of Culture and the International Institute Cross-Currents International in collaboration with Torn non-governmental and non-profit organization. Foreground: Nikolai Yefremenkov, a department manager with the Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant.28.05.1989#8120971
A Soviet-American seminar on creative leadership organized by the USSR Ministry of Culture's Agency for Support of Initiatives and Pioneer Projects and the Crosscurrents International Institute, and the Torn NGO (May 24 - June 3, 1989) onboard the Vladimir Lenin ferry.24.05.1989#6546349
The Soviet-American Entrepreneurship Seminar organized by the Agency for Support of Initiatives and Pioneer Projects of the USSR Ministry of Culture and Crosscurrents International, with the support of the Torn NGO (May 24-June 3, 1989, Ukrainian SSR.). The seminar was held onboard the Vladimir Lenin Ferry (now Mikhail Bulgakov). Greeting participants with bread and salt.24.05.1989#8139310
On January 8, 1989, the exhibition From Unofficial Art to Perestroika opened at the Lenexpo Exhibition Center in Leningrad. Photo: Pictures by Avant-Garde artists from Georgia.08.01.1989#6739966
On January 8, 1989, the exhibition From Unofficial Art to Perestroika opened at the Lenexpo Exhibition Center in Leningrad. A separate display featured masterpieces by Group of Eight artists who defended freedom of creativity and independence from socialist concepts.08.01.1989#6739965
The meeting between Mikhail Gorbachev, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the USSR and Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, and the youth of Moscow and the Moscow Region at Moscow Palace of Youth on October 29, 1988, timed to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the All-Union Leninist Young Communist League. Participants in the meeting listen to Mikhail Gorbachev's speech.29.10.1988#6577443
The meeting between Mikhail Gorbachev, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the USSR and Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, and the youth of Moscow and the Moscow Region at Moscow Palace of Youth on October 29, 1988, timed to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the All-Union Leninist Young Communist League. Participants in the meeting listen to Mikhail Gorbachev's speech.29.10.1988#6577437