Soviet troop withdrawal from Afghanistan begins

Gorbachev called for democratization within the party and greater competition in elections. The proposals widened public debate but kept reform under party leadership and did not yet establish...

The law promised enterprises more autonomy and introduced new accounting and labor rules. It aimed to improve productivity without ending central planning, and its effects varied across industries and...

Gorbachev and Reagan signed a treaty eliminating an entire class of intermediate-range nuclear missiles. European publics had campaigned against deployments; verification and superpower bargaining...

The regional council voted to seek transfer from the Azerbaijani SSR to the Armenian SSR. The demand reflected Armenian residents’ political claims; it also heightened insecurity and competing...

Afghanistan and Pakistan signed agreements on non-interference and refugee return; the USSR and United States signed guarantees. The accords set a timetable for Soviet withdrawal but did not end...

The conference debated political reforms, including a new legislature and more competitive elections. These measures weakened the party’s monopoly in public life but left the Union’s national question...

The republic asserted that Estonian laws would take precedence over Soviet laws. The declaration became an early institutional challenge to Moscow’s authority and reflected a popular movement for...

At the UN, Gorbachev announced large troop and tank reductions and a shift away from military intervention in Eastern Europe. The plan altered the external balance while leaving the political...

A powerful earthquake struck Spitak, Leninakan, and surrounding communities, killing tens of thousands and leaving many homeless. Rescue efforts drew international aid, while Soviet administrative...

The withdrawal ended the decade-long Soviet military intervention, in accordance with the Geneva timetable. Afghan conflict continued, and millions of refugees still faced the question of safe,...