Soviet Documents on Revolutionary Anniversaries

Summary

This declassified CIA document presents Soviet reports from November 6, 1990, focusing on the celebration of the anniversary of the Soviet Revolution. It details preparations for events in Moscow, including a gala at the Kremlin Palace of Congresses where prominent figures such as Gorbachev, Yeltsin, and other Soviet leaders participated. The document also includes speeches and interviews with various leaders and citizens, reflecting the complex reactions to commemorating a historical event during a time of political and social change.

Additionally, it addresses the controversy over how to mark the revolution, with divided opinions between viewing it as a black day or a bright festival. Preparations for demonstrations in Moscow are also mentioned, including one organized by "Democratic Russia" and another by a group of radical-minded deputies. The document provides a range of perspectives, from political analysis to interviews with ordinary citizens, offering a rich and multifaceted view of the situation in the Soviet Union at that time.