DMITRY BYCHKOV, 25, BILLBOARD INSTALLER

I saw almost all the reports about that coup – and neither did I regret then nor do I regret now that the coup leaders were unsuccessful. I'm sure their plan was doomed to fail, and they understood it. You could see the nervousness and fear of one leader – [Gennady] Yanayev – his hands were shaking. I don't want communism to return to Russia, and I'm glad that democracy, led by Boris Yeltsin, put down this putsch.

NAEMA MINOSYAN, 18, STUDENT

I want to live in a peaceful, prosperous and developed country. The Communists were unable to achieve this goal during their 70 years in power, so I'm glad they didn't succeed in their coup. I know that old people prefer the former regime. They say that they lived better then. But it just reminds them of when they were young. I don't want to go back to the old system. The only thing I regret is that the U.S.S.R. fell apart.

MIKHAIL YEFIMOV, 73, PENSIONER

I'm a World War II veteran, and on behalf of all the veterans, I have to say that we really regret that it failed. It was just a few democrats that prevented it. In 1991, the majority of politicians were for the continuation of the U.S.S.R. Yeltsin shouldn't have been allowed into power because he ruined the country. I worked very hard all my life... but today I have to collect empty bottles just to have money to buy bread.

YELENA KOTYKHOVA, 47, ENGLISH TEACHER

No, I don't. The GKChP was a remnant of the past. The coup leaders were people of the past. If they had succeeded, they would not have brought anything new to the system. The young generation has no regrets. But it all affected my father quite a bit. I even think that all the changes that came about afterwards contributed to his death. He couldn't adapt to the new order, he lost all his savings in 1991 and felt humiliated and insulted.

MAXIM AKHMEDGALEYEV, 17, STUDENT

I really don't think much about it – I really don't care. This unsuccessful coup attempt didn't change my life or my family's. I share the views of the democrats, of course, and I'm glad they succeeded in 1991. But the communists really had no chance. A lot of youths of my age took the risk of going to the barricades to support their parties. But I wouldn't have gone, because I don't think my presence would have changed anything one way or the other.

GALINA LYUTAROVITCH, 56, ENGINEER

I live in St. Petersburg, but I remember all the events that occurred in Moscow very well. My daughter was there at that time, so I kept a close watch on the situation. She wasn't among the demonstrators; she didn't support either side. But I was afraid that something might have happened to her. Fortunately, nothing did. I'm glad the coup leaders didn't succeed.