Cold War Files: All Units: People: Dmitriy Yazov

Dmitry Yazov

Dmitriy Yazov
b. 1924
Marshall of the Soviet Union, 1987-1991
Minister of Defense, USSR, 1987-1991

Dmitry Timofeyevich Yazov was Marshal of the Soviet Union and Defense Minister from 1987-1991. He was one of the key participants of the failed 1991 August Coup.

In 1979-1980, Yazov was a commander of the Central Army Group. Yazov held the post of Soviet Defense Minister from May 1987-August 1991. During the August Coup of 1991, Yazov was a member of the State Emergency Committee which had organized the coup. He was subsequently prosecuted and sentenced for treason. In 1994 he was freed under the general amnesty given by the State Duma.