The violent events in Moscow on October 4, 1993 were the culmination of a conflict long in the brewing. When in August 1991 reform-minded Boris Yeltsin stepped in as first President of a new sovereign Russia, he inherited an archaic Soviet constitution from the Brezhnev era and a pro-communist parliament dating back to June 1990. Conflict was inevitable and it intensified steadily over the next two years as contradictions grew between parliamentary legislation and presidential decrees. In this climate of political stalemate and a deteriorating economy, rumblings began to be heard in the Russian provinces and appeared the real threat of national disintegration or civil war. With all efforts at compromise coming up short, the remaining political solution became who could get rid of whom first, how and at what cost.
On March 20, 1993, Yeltsin announced that, pending resolution to the current power crisis, parliamentary acts contradictory to Presidential decrees would be considered invalid . He further announced a national referendum to be held on April 25th to determine the people's confidence in the President and his reforms. In turn, on March 26th in an emergency full session of parliament, The Congress of People's Deputies narrowly failed in its attempt to gather enough votes to impeach Yeltsin. The results of the April 25th national referendum gave only moderate support for Yeltsin and his reforms. Nothing was decided. Conflict deepened and Russian October, or the "October Events" as they are known in Russia, began to unfold at the end of September.
September 21 - Yeltsin decrees parliament dissolved and new parliamentary elections to be held on December 12th. At an emergency session of parliament Vice President Rutskoi announces that he is assuming the office of President.
September 23 - Parliament representatives distribute arms to the militia which has begun to form on the White House territory.
September 24 - Electricity, heat and hot water are cut off in the White House and police cordons appear around its territory.
October 1 - The Russian Orthodox Church acts as intermediary in negotiations between Yeltsin and parliament representatives, without success.
October 2 - Parliament supporters construct barricades and block traffic for almost 24 hours on Moscow's main traffic artery, Garden Ring Road. Scores of demonstrators are seriously injured in violent clashes with the police.
October 3 - A mob of parliament supporters storms and breaks through the police cordon around the White House territory. The police mysteriously disappear from the scene. Around 6:00 pm the jubilant crowd is greeted from the White House balcony by Rutskoi, who urges them to seize the national television center at Ostankino. Ostankino is virtually unguarded(?!) and the militia and supporters storm and easily occupy the main building at around 8:00 pm. Interior Ministry troops arrive more than two hours later. 50 people die in the ensuing battle. Yeltsin has received the card he needs to act decisively.
October 4 - In the early hours of the morning Yeltsin finally receives support from the military for a White House assault. Tanks roll up to the White House steps at around 5:00 am. Firing begins at 7:00 am. The assault continues throughout the day and is greeted by almost constant sniper fire from the building's upper stories. At 5:00 pm. special troops enter the building. More than 40 dead are discovered. Official reports place the toll of the October Events at 146 dead and approximately 1000 injured.
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