What were the key roles played by the Soviet Union in the Velvet Revolution?

What were the key roles played by the Soviet Union in the Velvet Revolution?

The Soviet Union played a significant role in the Velvet Revolution by adopting a policy of non-intervention. This decision allowed the revolution to unfold without direct interference from the Soviet government. Additionally, the Soviet Union's leader at the time, Mikhail Gorbachev, had implemented a policy of glasnost and perestroika, which encouraged political and economic reforms. These reforms indirectly influenced the Velvet Revolution by inspiring a wave of democratic movements across Eastern Europe, including Czechoslovakia. Therefore, the key roles played by the Soviet Union in the Velvet Revolution were non-intervention and the promotion of political reforms through their policies of glasnost and perestroika.