Not only the entire Western world, but even the top leaders of the three Baltic countries are anxiously waiting for the Kremlin's attitude. Four days have passed since the August 19th Incident, and the top leaders of the Soviet government are still silent, as if they are suspected of abrogating the signing of the new alliance treaty that was originally drafted.
The most responsive one, Estonian President Arnold Rütte, is still hiding in Finland, following the developments of the Central Committee of the Soviet Communist Party and preparing to establish a government in exile. Meanwhile, Latvian Acting President Anatoly Valeryanovich Gorbunov and Lithuanian Supreme Council Chairman Vytautas Landsbergis secretly met together to discuss how to deal with the threat from Russia. Although the Soviet Union was facing crises on all sides, it was still more than enough to deal with the three countries.
The result of the secret meeting was not only to mobilize all the armed forces of the three countries to resist the Soviet Union, but also to seek help from NATO. Of course, the Western world also made a solemn promise that once the Soviet army invaded the three Baltic countries, NATO would immediately send troops to the three countries to maintain stability. Of course, the leaders of the three countries knew how much water this promise had. The reason why the leaders of the member states dared to show their willingness to betray at this time was entirely because the Soviet Union had not demonstrated its armed strength through a bloody war in the past few decades.
While everyone was discussing what the Soviet Union would do next, Yanayev was doing two important things in the Kremlin. The first was to amend the Soviet Constitution on the republics. According to the Soviet Constitution, each republic had its own constitution, but it must not conflict with the Soviet Constitution. It had its own highest state power organ and highest state administrative organ. It had the right to freely withdraw from the Soviet Union. It had its own territory, which could not be changed without its consent. It had its own nationality, and citizens of each republic were also citizens of the Soviet Union. It had the right to have relations with foreign countries, to conclude treaties with foreign countries, to exchange diplomatic and consular representatives, and to participate in international organizations.
It was the provision that allowed the right to withdraw from the Soviet Union that particularly offended him. During Stalin's time, this legal provision was virtually meaningless. It became less effective during the Khrushchev and Brezhnev periods, and during Gorbachev's time, those nationalists who were eager to try were finally able to use this provision as a banner to deal with the weak Soviet president.
It's time to teach these ignorant idiots a lesson. Yanayev picked up the pen and crossed out this legal provision, then hesitated for a while under the legal provision that allowed for free conclusion of treaties with foreign countries.
He intended to turn the member states into ethnic regional autonomy and the sixteen member states into the real territory of the Soviet Union. But this would be a long and bloody process, and the current turbulent internal situation of the Soviet Union was not suitable for such a complex surgical transformation. So Yanayev finally moved his pen away from the legal article, looked at it a few more times with some reluctance, and said, let it be for now.
"Everything must be done step by step. If we rush things, who knows what problems may arise. If this group of people compromise, then I can go a step further." Yanaev put down his pen from the constitution book, and prepared to secretly convene a Soviet Politburo meeting to discuss privately this news that would shock friendly countries.
Anyway, the Politburo meeting was just a formality so far. Whether they agreed or not, Yanayev would go his own way. Everyone might behave differently in a private meeting. Except for the first secretaries of the major member states and Ivashko, the deputy general secretary of the Central Committee of the Soviet Communist Party who was still undergoing thyroid surgery, everyone else attended the secret meeting.
Of course, when Yanayev said he wanted to amend the constitution of the member states to remove the right to withdraw from the Soviet Union, there was an uproar. Some people thought Yanayev was crazy and wanted to push the Soviet Union into the abyss of civil war.
However, some people still faithfully implemented Yanaev's proposal. For example, Frolov, the editor-in-chief of "Communist", immediately said that they would release the news as soon as possible when necessary. Although his words attracted some people's disdain, Yanaev took everything into consideration. Shenin, as the new secretary of the Secretariat, completely stood on Yanaev's side after the Foros Villa incident. He also agreed with Yanaev's suggestion, but asked politely, "What will happen if the matter gets out of hand?"
"And we are not ready for a full-scale war with the allied countries," said Surkov, secretary of the Party Committee of the whole army. He pointed out that there are indeed ideological differences in the army now, and some people are more inclined to democratic ideas, and even refuse to obey the central government's orders. These mistakes are the mess left over from the Gorbachev era.
Yanayev smiled mysteriously. He had already thought of a plan to deal with this situation. However, he still needed to discuss the next step with Generals Yazov, Surkov and Varennikov. Some things could not be brought to the table and discussed in private.
"Are you all just going to watch the Soviet republics fall apart and collapse? Or are you already impatient to change your identities and stop fighting for our former ideals?" Yanaev's voice was not loud, but his words were like a hammer, hitting everyone's heart.
The originally bustling discussion gradually quieted down, and everyone looked at Yanaev. Some of them turned pale, and everyone knew the meaning of changing their identities, but they didn't dare to say it out loud.
Yanayev continued, "Of course, we also think that many things are impossible. For example, in 1812, we thought it was impossible for Moscow to stop Napoleon's cavalry. In 1942, we hid in the trenches and thought it was impossible to stop the Nazis. What about now? These invaders who have not given up are heading in the direction where our Katyusha is aimed. And now, it is just the three small Baltic countries that have stopped everyone's determination?"
Everyone was silent. The top leaders of the Soviet Communist Party had already decided to amend the constitution. There was no point in saying more. They were just following the leader. But no one knew what to do next. They just hoped Yanayev would do it with more enthusiasm.
"I never expected that." Zasokhov threw away his pen and turned his head to mock Shenin, "I never thought that our army would point its guns at the people it once protected. If the news of invading the three Baltic countries gets out, how will the Soviet people view us? A bunch of war maniacs?"
Shenin pushed his glasses and looked at Zasokhov with a serious expression and said, "Perhaps there are too many timid people like you in the top leadership of the Soviet Communist Party, which gave the omnipresent West an opportunity to take advantage of it."
"Comrade Shenin, I didn't say I don't agree with war to recover." Zasokhov raised his hand and made an innocent gesture, "But before going to war, we should at least consider our current situation. There are turmoil everywhere, and riots of varying degrees have broken out in major cities. Although they have been temporarily suppressed, there is no guarantee that they will rebound one day, so maintaining stability is the top priority. It is better to advocate peace and stabilize them for the time being, and then take action when the time is right."
Perhaps thinking that Zasokhov was talking too much, Shenin closed the notebook and moved to the side to draw a clear line between himself and Zasokhov. He no longer wanted to say another word to this nerd who only knew how to talk about war on paper. "Your enemies will never give you the opportunity to mature. Zasokhov, perhaps you are really not mature enough when it comes to foreign affairs."
Zasokhov, who always advocated peace, nodded and said, "It's up to you, Comrade Shenin. But I think General Secretary Yanaev's move will completely ignite all the member states and completely burn up the Soviet Union, the hard work of our fathers."
"You are wrong, Zasokhov. The flames of revolution will burn away the shackles of the old society, and the Soviets will be reborn in the ashes." Shenin smiled slightly, and Zasokhov did not notice the contempt in Shenin's eyes.