In 1991, the Soviet government tried to overthrow President Mikhail Gorbachev, but they failed which led to Moscow's government to completely lose control and power over the soviet union. In that same year the movement of the secession of the Baltic states started. Shortly after, on December 8, the Soviet republics claimed independence and the Belovezha Accords were signed by Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. The Belovezha Accords recognized these country's independence which created the Commonwealth of Independent States. The remaining republics joined the CIS on December 21, signing the Alma-Ata Protocol, which is the equivalent to our declaration of independence. Four days later on Christmas, President Gorbachev resigned. He handed over his presidential powers to Boris Yeltsin, which then became the first President of the Russian Federation. On the next day, they formally dissolving the Soviet Union.