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Footage of November rallies in the USSR published in Novosibirsk
How the November protests in the USSR took place is shown in the Sib.fm material. The video is provided by the Novosibirsk City Museum.
For decades, residents of Novosibirsk, like other Soviet cities, took part in protests twice a year: on May 1 and November 7. In the morning, the column headed towards Lenin Square. This tradition continued 30 years ago, in November 1990, when the last festive demonstrations of the Soviet era took place. These protests were a direct expression of Soviet ideology. For more than 70 years, Revolution Day proudly marked the Bolsheviks' seizure of power and the collapse of the Russian Empire. Let us recall what the regional party newspaper Sovetskaya Sibir wrote about the upcoming November holidays in the fall of 1990.
About a month before November 7, the Siberian Institute of Social Management and Political Science (former Novosibirsk Higher Party School) surveyed Novosibirsk residents about their attitude to the October Revolution and this commemorative event. A total of 668 people took part in the survey, representatives of various professions, including workers, engineers, doctors, teachers, scientists, students and pensioners. They were asked one question: "How would you like to celebrate the 73rd anniversary of the October Revolution?" Among the answers offered were some rather sharp ones. "I consider November 7 to be a national day of catastrophe and am against its celebration." 10.8% of respondents agreed with this statement. Although this is a small percentage, it is still a significant indicator of discontent, considering that in the 1970s such a position could attract the attention of the secret services. More than 80% of survey participants expressed support for the festive celebrations.
The surveys showed that the urban population generally supported revolutionary and socialist ideas. Both traditional and new forms of celebration were suggested, given the large share of politically passive citizens, a third of whom supported the holiday but did not want to participate in the protests. It is noteworthy that although the share of anti-communists was small, their actions were active and aggressive. Most respondents expressed surprise and anger at the answer: “November 7 – National Day of Natural Disasters.”
On October 20, 1990, the magazine Sovetskaya Sibir published "The Main Directions for Ensuring National Economic Stability and the Transition to a Market Economy." Although not directly related to the upcoming events, it reflected the mood of the late Soviet Union. The article spoke of the inevitability of the transition to a market economy, which was necessary for the benefit of citizens and would help overcome shortages and queues. Free pricing and integration with the global economy were also mentioned.
In total, 17 traditional speeches of the CPSU Central Committee on the occasion of the 73rd anniversary of the revolution were published in newspapers on October 25, and it is difficult to say now how they were reacted to in the minds of citizens. The call sounded like this: “Comrades! Let us remain true to the ideals of October and defend the name and work of Lenin! Boys and girls! Name the citizen of the Soviet Union with honor! The spirit and energy of youth - for perestroika! People all over the world! “Let us join forces to solve global problems!”
In the same issue, the newspaper published an appeal from the Novosibirsk Regional Committee of the CPSU to local communists and workers, which covered issues of concern to society. "We are celebrating this October holiday in difficult times. It is not only a matter of food shortages, but also the fact that the achievements of many years of labor of the Soviet people are being denied. The first socialist state to achieve world authority is under threat of destruction. There are forces demanding that we abandon the celebration of November 7. "We call on workers to support traditions and participate in holiday protests, rallies and other events."
As reported in the newspapers, before the holidays, additional trains were organized from Novosibirsk to Alma-Ata, Krasnoyarsk, Novokuznetsk, Vysk and Karasuk. Residents recalled that visiting their village with relatives was considered a valid reason for not attending the protest.
On November 6, two announcements were posted under the caption "Committee for Holidays." The first, on November 7, concerned the operation of public transport. Traffic on Krasny Prospekt was restricted from 8 a.m., including the closure of the Ploshchad Lenina metro station, but other stations remained open. Residents of the Leninsky, Kirovsky, and Kalininsky districts would be given streets for local protests, allowing residents of remote areas of Novosibirsk to cross the city to participate in the march along Lenin Square. There was no need for this. The bridge remained open to traffic.
On Wednesday, November 7, 1990, the newspaper SovSibir once again called for a ceremonial celebration of the anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution. It was noted that decisions to hold demonstrations and rallies were made by labor detachments and local Soviets. Local authorities in Novosibirsk and most regions of the region expressed support for these events. However, some parts of the region decided to abandon official celebrations.
The November 8 newspaper began with a report from Lenin Square. "The central square looks unique. There are no large panels or portraits on the building. There is only a tall flagpole with a red flag. There is no large platform for city and regional leaders. They are standing among those present at the celebration."
The black Volga under the command of the commander of the Siberian Military District, Colonel B.E. Pyankov, led the military parade of the Novosibirsk garrison. In the commentary to the column of the Novosibirsk Higher School of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs, Batumi, Sukhumi, Yerevan, and Baku were mentioned as hot spots visited by cadets in 1990. Infantry fighting vehicles, multiple launch rocket systems, and mobile anti-aircraft missile systems were presented at the parade.
The workers' demonstration began with a procession of the Heroes of Socialist Labor with the flag of Novosibirsk. They were followed by the city and regional leaders Ivan Indinok and Vitaly Mukha, their colleagues and friends. In the 1990s, Mukha and Indinok took turns holding the posts of governors.
Columns from Dzerzhinsky, Central and Zheleznodorozhny districts followed the authorities to the square. "Usually the children walked ahead, but this time there were no smiles because of the cold," the correspondent said. From the factory to the car. An aviation boom was installed on Chkalov. Among the pillars of Oktyabrsky and Zaeltsovsky districts were athletes and brass bands.
A year later, in November 1991, a rally was held in Novosibirsk with the support of the Socialist Leninist Party of the Working Class and the Association of War and Labor Veterans. In 1992, city rallies of workers' groups began to demand higher wages. The state quickly entered into market relations.