Answer: Russia
Explanation: After the failed coup against Mikhail Gorbachev in August 1991, Boris Yeltsin announced that his government had political control of the Soviet republic of Russia. Yeltsin was the President of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic at the time, and he played a key role in opposing the coup and defending the democratically elected government. His actions during this time helped to solidify his political power and establish Russia as an independent state.