As Gorbachev had weakened the system of internal political repression, the ability of the USSR's central Moscow government to impose its will on the USSR's constituent republics had been largely undermined.
Cum Gorbaciov a slăbit sistemul intern de represiune, puterea guvernului central de la Moscova de a-și impune voința în republicile constituente ale URSS-ului a fost subminată semnificativ.