Moscow's Mayor Gavril Popov has, nonetheless, declared the ban unconstitutional.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy

When asked by the then-Mayor of Moscow Gavril Popov to inform Yeltsin during a U.S. visit that a hardline coup was in the offing, the White House decided instead to divulge this information to President Gorbachev, for whom the plotters worked.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Freedom Flame 2013