Gorbachev Foundation refutes Yeltsin comments on 1991 coup

     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