"Assassinate Yeltsin, did I hear you right? Comrade Yanaev, I absolutely do not agree with your reckless actions." Deputy Chairman of the National Defense Committee Baklanov was the first to oppose Yanaev's plan. "We only need to restrict Yeltsin's personal freedom and force him to give up his power and resign from his post. There is no need to resort to assassination."
"Naive." Yanayev glanced at Baklanov and asked him a question that left him speechless. "Yeltsin was able to bring more than 100,000 supporters from Moscow's Science City to hold a large parade at the riding ground, and that was just to protest against the report in Pravda about his drunken behavior in the United States. Who among you here can do that? If Yeltsin's personal freedom is restricted, I'm afraid that before the news even leaves the Kremlin, Yeltsin has already gathered a resistance team to support him."
The August 19 martial law and the assassination plan of Yeltsin happened only one day apart, which led to the final tragedy. At the moment when martial law began, Yeltsin acted faster than a cheetah, inciting the masses who did not know the truth to riot in the streets. Compared with the slow movements of the emergency committee members, Yeltsin clearly won at the starting line.
"I believe Yeltsin is a person who understands the overall situation. After all, he was the one who assassinated the president..." The chairman of the Peasant Union, Tarotubtsev, still had a little fantasy about Yeltsin. And Yanayev completely interrupted everyone's last retreat.
"Everyone, everyone, listen to me." Yanaev raised the videotape he had been hiding in his hand and said indifferently, "The videotape in my hand was given to me by Comrade Genolano, and it records the news of Gorbachev's assassination. If you continue to hesitate, be weak and compromise like this, Yeltsin will have the opportunity to continue to grow and develop. Now the news of President Gorbachev's death has not been announced, and the people are unaware of it. But what if I change the news in my hand to that the State Emergency Committee assassinated Gorbachev? By then, Yeltsin's supporters will increase exponentially, and we will be completely in the abyss of the people's enemy."
"What do you want to do? Are you threatening us with failure in the operation? Don't forget that you are also a member of the Emergency Committee!" Pugo said vigilantly.
Yanaev shrugged and said, "It's not a threat, it's just to make everyone united. Look at our State of Emergency Committee, it's a mess. There is no order, no purpose, and I just lead everyone to get through the most dangerous moment of the Soviet Union. So, are there any other questions?"
Everyone was silent. Yanaev's aura intimidated everyone, including those hesitant reformers. Now the entire conference room had become his home court. Yanaev began to talk about the battle plan in a torrent of words. "The current battle plan is to quickly mobilize troops to enter Moscow and impose martial law and implement a wartime state. The political commissar has the right to execute soldiers who dare to disobey orders on the spot."
It was because the army pretended to obey and entered Moscow at a snail's pace that Yeltsin and his followers had the opportunity to launch a counterattack.
"After the army enters Moscow and issues a state of emergency order, we must catch Yeltsin off guard. The tank company must surround the White House as quickly as possible. We must surround it without attacking and make it completely blocked." Yanaev spoke passionately about his battle plan. When no one had a clear plan, Yanaev's plan was their only option.
"Why surround us but not attack?" Yazov asked puzzledly.
"Killing people is not what the tanks are supposed to do. Tanks are responsible for maintaining order and stability. What we need to do is to tear open Yeltsin's hypocritical face in front of the White House, on Red Square, and in all public places! Put up a curtain, bring a video recorder, and make this videotape public so that the public will know Yeltsin's true intentions." Yanayev raised the route in his hand and said fiercely. Compared to killing people, he prefers to destroy their hearts and kill them at the same time.
Politics is a wonderful show of lying. No one would question Yeltsin's motives for assassinating Gorbachev, and no one would think about why the guards were able to bring the poison into the Foros villa. Perhaps someone will consider this after the storm has passed, and at this time the only thing the people believe is that the assassin they saw with their own eyes was sent by Yeltsin.
Facts are often not the same as the truth.
Next, Yanaev discussed the details of launching an emergency curfew with the committee members and then adjourned the meeting. The curfew order would be issued the next morning, and Yazov would be responsible for coordinating the mobilization of the tank troops of the Guards Division tonight. Everyone came out of the meeting room with pale faces. Everyone knew that tonight would be a calm night before the storm, and tomorrow, the political situation in the Soviet Union would undergo an earth-shaking change.
"May Comrade Lenin bless the Soviets." Minister of Internal Affairs Pugo said to himself as he stepped out of the meeting room. It was already dark, and the Kremlin was brightly lit, shining brightly in the dark night. He looked at the fire, and the country was like a terminally ill polar bear making its last struggle. He couldn't help but add, "The Soviets should not fall. If we lose, the socialist movement will really lose."
"Comrades Yazov and Kryuchkov, please stay." Yanaev stopped Yazov who was about to leave. Yazov turned around and asked in confusion, "Is there anything else? Comrade Yanaev."
"I want to discuss the assassination with you now. Please call General Achalov and General Nigan Agayev to discuss this matter. I want to come up with a reliable battle plan before 12 o'clock." Yanaev put his hands flat on the table and waited for Yazov's answer. In the historical assassination of Yeltsin, Nigan Agayev, who was a KGB agent, and Achalov, who was Yazov's agent, happened to be the highest commanders of the operation.
"Yes, I'll go and get Negan right away." KGB Chairman Kryuchkov was as docile as a sheep in front of Yanaev. All this was due to the bloody massacre he witnessed last night. At least he knew that Yanaev was tougher than others.
"Assassination? The KGB's Alpha Group can do it. Why do we need people from the Army Department to get involved?" Yazov didn't understand why Yanaev wanted to keep him.
"For this assassination, we need to mobilize at least two helicopters, five tanks and armored vehicles, and a special forces unit of more than 20 people to complete the mission. Also, from now on, we will no longer activate the Alpha Team." Yanaev took a deep breath and said slowly, "I have prepared two teams dispatched from the GRU to stand by at the KGB base on Lenin Street."
"Why not use Alpha? Letting them infiltrate the White House is the easiest plan to succeed." Yazov didn't understand why Yanaev made such a decision. He had the best and most convenient Alpha, but he didn't use it.
Kryuchkov on the side interrupted and said, "Because the Alpha team was attacked by thugs last night and all of them were killed." After saying that, he smiled helplessly at Yazov.
"Are you going to give them all to ..." Defense Minister Yazov immediately understood what Kryuchkov meant. Cold sweat began to seep out of his forehead. How many tricks did this vice president who was elected as the chairman of the committee do behind their backs?
"This is not the point of discussion. The fate of these people was decided when Alpha pledged allegiance to Yeltsin. Also, who said I would intercept Yeltsin at the White House tomorrow? If I wait until tomorrow, it will be too late. Tonight will be the day Yeltsin dies." Yanayev was finally ready and took the most critical step in the overall plan. The news of the coup would be deliberately spread to Yeltsin's ears through some channels tonight. By then, the panicked old fox would definitely escape from the heavily guarded villa and head to the White House, and the road leading to the White House would be his grave.
Yeltsin must die!