In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

577 Document No. 99: Session of the CC CPSU Politburo November 9, 1989 On this historic day featuring the breaching of the Berlin Wall, the Soviet Politburo pays no attention at all to Eastern Europe. The leadership’s regular weekly meeting mentions not a word about the changes in East Germany, but the reason becomes understandable when one realizes that the subject is the even more chilling prospect of the dissolution of the USSR itself. There is a sense of fatalism in the air about the inevitability of the Baltic countries seceding, and even Gorbachev can propose only a media strategy to try to convince the Balts that separating from the USSR will “doom their people to a miserable existence.” As he often does, Prime Minister Ryzhkov plays the role of the panicked Cassandra: “What we should fear is not the Baltics, but Russia and Ukraine. I smell an overall collapse. And then there will be another government, another leadership of the country, already a different country.” This time, his prediction would come true. Gorbachev: I met before the holidays [of November 7, commemorating the Bolshevik revolution] with representatives of Estonia and Latvia. They have a feeling that there is no way other than to leave the USSR. No attempts to adopt republic-wide economic autonomy [khozraschet] will give them independence. So they think. They are convinced that because the Center is not ready to grant real independence there will be no real economic autonomy either. This is being used as an excuse to leave the USSR. On the one hand, this is blackmail. But we must retain the initiative. And experience shows that the most blatant nationalists can go far. Tomorrow we will revoke the laws the republics have passed about their independence. However, we must keep in mind that aside from separatist attempts there are real problems and we should decide on them. And fill [the concept of] republican economic autonomy with real substance so that later we will not have to agree to yet another “wretched Brest-Litovsk peace.”82 We have no other option but to stick to our concept, and to implement it instead of beating around the bush and wasting time. Sitaryan: There is and will be no compromise with the Baltics. Pavlov also believes that compromise would be impossible to achieve. Gorbachev: And you expect to keep them [in the Union] through fuel prices, via the energy sector? 82 The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed on March 3, 1918, between Soviet Russia and the Central Powers. As the price for extracting itself from World War I, Russia incurred heavy territorial and resource losses, and was subject to widespread criticism as a result, although the effects were short-lived due to the Allies’ victory in the war. Melyakova book.indb 577 2010.04.12. 16:20 578 Vorotnikov: If we confront them with unacceptable economic terms, then it would be a signal for them to leave the USSR. Gorbachev: But we should show them: those who choose separation doom their people to a miserable existence [proziabanie]. And they should come to feel it. We must take a progressive stand in general, instead of bargaining here and there. Vorotnikov: If we publicly reveal everything about how we are conducting negotiations with the Balts, Russia will blow up. Gorbachev: We must sort out the main issues: 1) The Federation; 2) Property ; 3) Prices. If a Federation exists, prices should be common for everyone, otherwise there will be borders, customs. 4) social differentiation from republic to republic. All the experience we have in the different republics should be summarized in a single new concept. Abalkin: We need a law on the order of secession from the USSR. Gorbachev: As the economic situation worsens in the country, the Balts come up with a new tune: “We do not want to perish in this common chaos.” Ryzhkov: Among them everything is aimed at preparations for secession. All these discussions with us are just for show, for buying time. As soon as they win elections, they will adopt a decision to leave. What should be done? Introduce a common free market among isolated republics? But that would mean chaos. What we should fear is not the Baltics, but Russia and Ukraine. I smell an overall collapse. And then there will be another government, another leadership of the country, already a different country. There is an evolution visible among the Russian collectives in the Baltic Republics—from confrontation to unity...

Share