14 Facts About Gennady Yanayev

Gennady Ivanovich Yanayev was a Soviet politician and disputed President of the Soviet Union for three days.

Gennady Yanayev was then arrested for his role in the coup, but in 1994 he was pardoned.

Gennady Yanayev graduated from the Gorky Institute of Agriculture in 1959.

Gennady Yanayev applied and officially became a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1962.

Gennady Yanayev became Secretary for International Affairs of All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions in 1986 and became Deputy Chairman of the trade unions in 1989.

Gennady Yanayev was Gorbachev's third choice for the post; Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze and Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev had turned the offer down.

Shortly after taking office, Gennady Yanayev joined a group of more conservative Communist politicians, led by KGB chairman Vladimir Kryuchkov, who hoped to persuade Gorbachev to declare a state of emergency.

Gennady Yanayev further claimed that the danger of collapse was imminent, and if the economic situation was not handled quickly, the Soviet Union would collapse.

Gennady Yanayev is very tired after these many years and he will need some time to get better.

Gennady Yanayev declared at the press conference at 17:00 that Gorbachev was "resting".

In 1993, Moscow weekly Novy Vzglyad quoted Gennady Yanayev as admitting that he was drunk when he signed the decree which made him acting president, but saying that inebriation had not affected his judgment.

Gennady Yanayev described the events of 1991 as a burden for the rest of his life.

Gennady Yanayev was released on recognizance not to leave in January 1993.

Gennady Yanayev was survived by his wife and two daughters.