On August 25, the day after Ukraine’s parliament voted for independence, a similar declaration was made by Belarus; on August 26 came one by Ukraine’s other neighbor, Moldova. Faraway Azerbaijan would proclaim its independence on August 30. It would be followed the next day by Kyrgyzstan and a day later by Uzbekistan. Not only Gorbachev but also Yeltsin looked on in horror and astonishment as one republic after another declared its independence.
