25th Anniversary of the USSR's Collapse: Perestroika in Pictures

Soviet women are famous for their homemade pies, but still people queued in the first pizzerias.

At the 27th Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) Congress, Mikhail Gorbachev called the fundamental question of the expansion of publicity.

In 1988, Mikhail Gorbachev spoke at the UN General Assembly. The president said that “the use of force and threats can no longer be an instrument of foreign policy.” In the final part of his speech, Gorbachev underlined the progress made in the improvement of relations between the USSR and USA and declared an unilateral reduction of the army, the conversion of the defense industry and the beginning of troop withdrawals from Eastern Europe and Mongolia.

During perestroika, “child diplomacy” became a popular thing. In 1988, an American 9-year-old pupil from Los Angeles was the first young diplomat to bring Russia “message of peace.” The boy travelled to Moscow, Leningrad and Kiev.

On May 30, 1990, Gorbachev visited the United States for the first time. George Bush said that it was necessary to further contribute to the process of “creating a new Europe." The American president then admitted that he wanted to see success of perestroika.

In perestroika times, all previously forbidden literature was published.

In 1985, Gorbachev enacted anti-alcohol regulations, known as “dry laws."

In 1979, Moscow kiosks began sale of Pepsi.

On December 8, 1987, Washington held a Soviet-American meeting, in which both sides agreed on threat reduction.

On January 31, 1990, the first ever McDonalds opened in Moscow. In a day, 30,000 locals visited the new opened restaurant.

During reconstruction times, Soviet symbolism became very popular among citizens of the capital.

On May 29, 1988, Gorbachev met with Ronald Reagan. The American president gave a lecture on free markets at Moscow State University.

In the late-80s, Soviet authorities eased media censorship and lifted the ban on the discussion of topics which were previously suppressed.

In 1991, in Moscow organized an event to celebrate Soviet legendary author’s, Mikhail Bulgakov, 100 birthday.

TV ratings of the State Duma meetings were comparable with the success of today’s entertainment shows.

In March 1989 the Deputies elections were held in Moscow. It was the first election of the supreme governmental body, in which voters for the first time were given a choice between several candidates.

Photo gallery known as “USSR: Perestoika.”

In 1986, “corporate” clothing appeared in stores.

The price for imported boots could reach as much as a monthly salary for an engineer but everyone still queued for them.

The first Soviet international festival was called “Rock for Peace.” In May 1988 it was held for the first time in Moscow.