Vladimir Ivashko

Vladimir Antonovich Ivashko (Russian: Владимир Антонович Ивашко Ukrainian: Володимир Антонович Івашко) (28 October 1932 — 13 November 1994), was briefly the acting General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union during the period from August 24, 1991 to August 29, 1991. On August 24, Mikhail Gorbachev resigned, and on August 29 the CPSU was suspended by the USSR Supreme Soviet. Before becoming General Secretary he had been Gorbachev'... more

Vladimir Antonovich Ivashko (Russian: Владимир Антонович Ивашко Ukrainian: Володимир Антонович Івашко) (28 October 1932 — 13 November 1994), was briefly the acting General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union during the period from August 24, 1991 to August 29, 1991. On August 24, Mikhail Gorbachev resigned, and on August 29 the CPSU was suspended by the USSR Supreme Soviet. Before becoming General Secretary he had been Gorbachev's deputy within the Party, a newly created position as a result of the 28th Congress of the CPSU. The Communist Party in between Gorbachev's resignation and its suspension was politically impotent. By the time of the 28th Congress in July 1990, the party was largely regarded as being unable to lead the country and had, in fifteen republics, split into opposing factions favouring either independent republics or the continuation of the Soviet Union. Stripped of its leading role in society the party lost its authority to lead the nation or the... less