The Gorbachev Foundation's press service has refuted a statement made by first Russian President Boris Yeltsin, who said that former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev "knew about the August 1991 coup" and "deliberately played a waiting game" to join the winning side.
"By trying to tar Gorbachev's reputation, Yeltsin is seeking to shake off his responsibility for the Belovezha agreements and other steps that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union. It is not the first time he has done so," the press service said.
Yeltsin made the accusations in a film by Nikolai Svanidze, due to be broadcast on television soon.
Yeltsin "is trying to portray himself as a strong supporter of the Union treaty in spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary," the press service said.
"Steps by the former Russian president to repeatedly change his 'theories' do not do him any credit. By accusing Gorbachev of 'playing a waiting game', Yeltsin repeated statements made by Kryuchkov and other GKChP members virtually word-for-word," it said.
Interfax, January 30, 2006
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