Vladimir Kryuchkov
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Vladimir Alexandrovich Kryuchkov (Владимир Александрович Крючков in Russian, Volgograd, 1924) was a Soviet politician and a Communist Party member from 1944.
Kryuchkov joined the Soviet diplomatic service, stationed in Hungary until 1959. He then worked for the Communist Party HQ in Ukraine for eight years before joining the KGB in 1967. He was assigned Deputy Chairman in 1978. In 1988 he was promoted to General of the Army rank and became KGB Chairman. In 1989-1990, he was a member of Politburo.
During the August Coup of 1991, Kryuchkov was among the "gang of eight" that led the State Emergency Committee (Государственный Комитет по Чрезвычайному Положению, ГКЧП) that temporarily ousted Gorbachev. Following the failed coup attempt, Kryuchkov was imprisoned for his participation. However, in 1994 the State Duma freed him by amnesty. Kryuchkov was replaced as chairman of the KGB by Vadim Bakatin.
