Significant Events in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe

By Joe Beard

  • Gorbachev introduces glasnost

    gave the Soviet people freedoms that they had never previously known, including greater freedom of speech. The press became far less controlled, and thousands of political prisoners and many dissidents were released.

  • Gorbachev introduces perestroika

  • Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty signed

    is a 1987 agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union (and later its successor states, in particular the Russian Federation).

  • Berlin Wall Falls

    The Berlin wall fell

  • Vaclav Havel elected president of Czechoslovakia

  • 1st general elections in Romania

    1st election after overthrow of Communism.

  • Jozsef Antall elected prime minister of Hungary

  • Germany reunification takes place

    Germany is reunified.

  • Lech Walesa elected president of Poland