ABSTRACT
A schism did take place within the Lithuanian Communist Party, and rather quickly. The schism was predicted clearly and unambiguously—and it happened at a time when passions could have been calmed and prevented from causing a bad outcome. Once again opposite positions and approaches were in conflict at the Politburo session. Mikhail Gorbachev agreed, and soon that a memorable session of the Politburo took place. The Politburo met with the leaders of the Lithuanian Communist Party, a series of conversations took place with Algirdas Brazauskas, and Gorbachev went to Lithuania. Alexander Yakovlev remained a member of the Politburo and was appointed to the Presidential Council, which was the highest advisory board of the president. It is no accident that the Politburo session at which Yakovlev reported on his trip to Lithuania instantly came to mind at the working meeting on Georgia.
