As Deputies Meet, a Single Scenario

“There was only one scenario for this Congress. The coup nearly brought the country to the brink of catastrophe, to a blood bath, and after that, to spend a week listening to all sorts of opinions? No, that’s not what’s needed, and people understand this. The country wanted . . . a speedy adoption of very radical decisions. And that’s what the Congress did.”

--Georgy K. Shakhnazarov, an adviser to Mikhail S. Gorbachev

Deputies Are ‘Mere Puppets’

“The deputies don’t know a thing. They are mere puppets, jerked up and down by their strings, bossed about and abused. Slaves aren’t treated any differently.”

--Sazhi Z. Umalatova, Communist deputy

‘One Night’s Work’

“Unfortunately, all these innovations are the result of one night’s work. You don’t make good laws in one night.”

--Alexander M. Obolensky, a deputy from Leningrad

‘A Bit Premature’ for a Funeral

“As for the funeral of the Soviet Union, this is a bit premature. Everyone can see things are being rushed unnecessarily, with a heavy dose of emotion. Perhaps it would have been more correct to employ reason.”

--Col. Nikolai S. Petrushenko, member of conservative group Soyuz

‘Situation Will Continue to Worsen’

“In the nearest future, both the social and economic situation will continue to worsen, we will have territorial, inter-ethnic border conflicts.”

--Yuri V. Blokhin, Moldovan deputy and Soyuz leader

Hail and Farewell, Comrades

“Until we meet again, comrades!”

--Gorbachev, closing the session of the Congress