That's where the dog is buried, Gorbachev ? - briefly
"That's where the dog is buried, Gorbachev?" The phrase is a metaphorical expression used to challenge someone's understanding or competence in a particular subject.
That's where the dog is buried, Gorbachev ? - in detail
The phrase "That's where the dog is buried, Gorbachev" has been attributed to Boris Yeltsin during his famous speech on August 23, 1991, in front of the White House in Moscow. This event took place amidst the backdrop of the failed coup attempt against Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev by hardline communists who sought to reverse Gorbachev's reforms and maintain the Soviet Union's power structure.
Yeltsin, then the president of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR), was a leading figure in opposing the coup. During his speech, he aimed to rally public support against the coup plotters and to assert Russia's sovereignty within the Union. The phrase is often interpreted as a metaphorical challenge to Gorbachev's leadership, suggesting that the true power and future of the Soviet Union lay not with the central government but with regional leaders like Yeltsin himself.
The historical significance of this statement lies in its reflection of the growing tensions between the Russian republic and the central Soviet authorities. It marked a crucial turning point in the dissolution of the Soviet Union, highlighting the shifting balance of power away from Moscow and towards the constituent republics. Yeltsin's defiance and the public support he garnered further emboldened regional leaders to assert their independence, ultimately leading to the collapse of the Soviet Union by the end of 1991.
In broader terms, this event underscored the fragility of the Soviet political system and the inability of central authorities to maintain control over increasingly autonomous regions. The phrase has become emblematic of the power struggle that preceded the fall of the Soviet Union, offering a glimpse into the complex dynamics at play during one of the most significant geopolitical shifts of the 20th century.