News January 21, 1991 - Soviet Military in the Baltic Nations

The Soviet Union continues its crackdown on the independence movements in the breakaway Baltic republics while the world is distracted by the Persian Gulf War. Latvia says it will form its own voluntary militia to protect itself from the Soviets. Five Latvians died yesterday when Soviet troops stormed the capital building in Riga, the capital of Latvia, in attacks similar to what Lithuania experienced earlier in the month. It appears that Mikhail Gorbachev may be moving toward allegiance with hardline Communists, the hardliners, the military, and the KGB. In addition, to using the military in the Baltic nations, the Kremlin is canceling television programs that criticize the Soviet government. Boris Yeltsin, President of the Russian Republic, has emerged as last powerful champion of reform. In support of reform and opposition to Mikhail Gorbachev, tens of thousands of Russians take to the streets in Moscow demanding Gorbachev resign. Bush calles on Soviet leadership to stop using force in the Baltic nations but does not mention Mikhail Gorbachev by name.