Editing Nikita Khrushchev (section)

==Removal==
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[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-49000-0329, Berlin, Chruschtschow trägt sich ins Goldene Buch ein.jpg|thumb|Nikita Khrushchev with [[Anastas Mikoyan]] (far right) in Berlin]]

Beginning in March 1964, Supreme Soviet presidium chairman and thus nominal head of state [[Leonid Brezhnev]] began plotting Khrushchev's removal with his colleagues.{{sfn|Taubman|2003|p=615}} While Brezhnev considered having Khrushchev arrested as he returned from a trip to Scandinavia in June, he instead persuaded members of the Central Committee to support the ousting of Khrushchev, remembering how crucial the committee's support had been to Khrushchev in defeating the Anti-Party Group plot.{{sfn|Taubman|2003|p=615}} Brezhnev had ample time for his conspiracy, as Khrushchev was absent from Moscow for a total of five months between January and September 1964.{{sfn|Taubman|2003|p=617}}

The conspirators, led by Brezhnev, First Deputy Premier [[Alexander Shelepin]], and KGB chairman [[Vladimir Semichastny]], struck in October 1964, while Khrushchev was on vacation at [[Pitsunda]] with his friend and Presidium colleague Anastas Mikoyan. On 12 October, Brezhnev called Khrushchev to notify him of a special Presidium meeting to be held the following day, ostensibly about agriculture.{{sfn|Taubman|2003|p=5}} Even though Khrushchev suspected the real reason for the meeting,{{sfn|Taubman|2003|p=6}} he flew to Moscow, accompanied by the head of the Georgian KGB, General [[Aleksi Inauri]], but otherwise taking no precautions.{{sfn|Taubman|2003|pp=11–13}}

[[File:1964-10-15 Khrushchev Resigns.ogv|thumb|left|[[Universal Newsreel]] about Khrushchev's resignation]]

Khrushchev arrived at the VIP hall of [[Vnukovo International Airport|Vnukovo Airport]]; KGB chairman Semichastny waited for him there, flanked by KGB guards. Semichastny informed Khrushchev of his ouster and told him not to resist. The plotters' coup went off smoothly; Khrushchev felt betrayed by Semichastny, as he considered him a friend, not suspecting that he had joined his enemies within the Party.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/obituary/2001/01/18/vladimir-semichastny |title=Vladimir Semichastny |newspaper=[[The Economist|economist.com]] |date=18 January 2001 |access-date=8 October 2022}}</ref> Khrushchev was then taken to the Kremlin, to be verbally attacked by Brezhnev, [[Mikhail Suslov|Suslov]] and Shelepin. He put up little resistance. Semichastny was careful not to create the appearance of a coup:

{{blockquote|I didn't even close the Kremlin to visitors. People were strolling around outside, while in the room the Presidium was meeting. I deployed my men around the Kremlin. Everything that was necessary was done. Brezhnev and Shelepin were nervous. I told them: Let's not do anything that isn't necessary. Let's not create the appearance of a coup.<ref>Mccauley, Martin (1995) ''The Khrushchev Era 1953–1964''. Longman. p. 81. {{ISBN|9780582277762}}</ref>}}

That night, after his ouster, Khrushchev called Mikoyan:

{{blockquote|I'm old and tired. Let them cope by themselves. I've done the main thing. Could anyone have dreamed of telling Stalin that he didn't suit us anymore and suggesting he retire? Not even a wet spot would have remained where we had been standing. Now everything is different. The fear is gone, and we can talk as equals. That's my contribution. I won't put up a fight.{{sfn|Taubman|2003|p = 13}}}}

On 14 October 1964, the Presidium and the Central Committee voted to accept Khrushchev's "voluntary" request to retire for reasons of "advanced age and ill health." Brezhnev was elected First Secretary, while [[Alexei Kosygin]] succeeded Khrushchev as premier.{{sfn|Taubman|2003|p = 16}}<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/316972/Nikita-Sergeyevich-Khrushchev|title=Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev|encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica|date=16 August 2023}}</ref>