1993 Russian coup in photos

20 years ago on this day Russia's constitutional crisis escalated to an armed coup

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August 20, 1993. A meeting is held in front of the The House of Soviets in support of the actions of the Supreme Soviet of Russia and against policies of the President and the Government. Photo ITAR-TASS/ Valentin Kuzmin

Alexander Rutskoy takes oath of the President of the Russian Federation at a rush meeting of the Supreve Soviet of Russia, which followed a televised address to the nation made by Boris Yeltsin. Photo ITAR-TASS/ Valentin Kuzmin

Viktor Barannikov, Minister of Security and "Shadow Cabinet," and Alexander Rutskoy, Russia's Vice President, among defenders of the White House. Photo ITAR-TASS/ Alexander Chumichev

Barricades on Sadovoye Ring. Photo ITAR-TASS/ Igor Zotin

Krymskiy Bridge. Militia disperses demonstrators. ITAR-TASS/ Anatoly Morkovkin

Crowd storms the City Hall. Photo ITAR-TASS/ Gennady Khamelyanin

Vice President of the Russian Federation Alexander Rutskoy addresses defenders of the White House. Photo ITAR-TASS/ Sergei Mamontov

Announcement shown on television screens after an attempted attack on the Ostankino television center by insurgents. The text reads: "Broadcast on channels One and Four intermitted by an armed mob who stormed the building." Photo ITAR-TASS/ Roman Den

Rally held in fron of the Ostankino television center. Photo ITAR-TASS/ Igor Zotin

Crowd in front of the Ostankino televisino center. Photo ITAR-TASS/ Anatoliy Morkovkin

Boris Yeltsin, president of the Russian Federation, addressing the country's citizens. Photo ITAR-TASS/ Boris Kavashkin

The White House after shelling. Photo ITAR-TASS/ Boris Kavashkin

Muscovites witnessing White House assault from nearby roofs. Photo ITAR-TASS/ Roman Denisov

White House assault, October 4, 1993. Photo ITAR-TASS/ Oleg Vlasov

Tanks in front of the White House. Photo AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianchenko

Tanks in front of the White House. Photo ITAR-TASS/ Igor Zotin

A group of those besieged in the White House leaves the building. Photo ITAR-TASS/ Valeriy Khristoforov

Storm of the White House. Photo ITAR-TASS/ Anatoliy Morkovkin

Muscovites overlook siege of the White House. Photo ITAR-TASS/ Igor Zotin

Participants of the October events run away from a firefight. Photo ITAR-TASS/ Gennadiy Khamelyanin

Tanks at the White House siege. Photo ITAR-TASS/ Gennadiy Khamelyanin

Burned down trolleybus near the White House. Photo ITAR-TASS/ Valentin Kuzmin

Muscovites erect flag of the Russian Federation after events which transpired October 3 and 4. Photo AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianchenko

October 3, 1993, Congress of People's Deputies of Russia was disbanded as a result of the constitutional crisis which began in 1992. The internal conflict escalated in a military confrontation between two political forces: President of the Russian Federation Boris Yeltsin and a group of deputies of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation.

The president’s order on the gradual constitutional reform of the Russian Federation sparked the reason for the coup – in essence, it rendered the Supreme Soviet useless. Supporters for the redundant governmental body tried to take over the City Hall and Ostankino television center, the main broadcasting facility in the country. The following day, October 4, Boris Yeltsin issued the order to storm the White House, which was eventually shelled by tanks.

157 died and 384 injured in this event. The majority were civilians.

Boris Yeltsin’s side won that day, which meant that the Soviet power, which ruled the country since 1917, was irrevocably abolished. According to the new constitution, adopted in December of 1993, Russia became a republic with two houses of parliament and a strong presidential institute.