The August 1991 putsch may be ancient history for most Russians, but not for Valentin Varennikov, one of the chief suspects in the coup plotters' case that was effectively closed by a parliamentary amnesty granted to most defendants four months ago.While 11 other suspects welcomed the amnesty, Varennikov rejected it, saying he wanted to clear his name. On June 21, the military collegium of the Supreme Court is scheduled to begin a new trial of Varennikov's case, which now is all but forgotten by the general public."My client is strong in spirit as he prepares for the trial," Varennikov's lawyer Dmitry Shteinberg said in a telephone interview. "He is hoping to take on the former Soviet president and put up a good fight."Mikhail Gorbachev, as well as other former top Soviet officials, will be called as witnesses during the trial, according to the Supreme Court spokesman, Viktor Pavlenok."If Varennikov is acquitted, people will believe that the other accused plotters are not guilty, either," Shteinberg said. "They will put the blame on others, those who broke up the Soviet Union."A spokesman for Gorbachev said the former president would testify at the trial."The forces of yesterday are still trying to take revenge," said Georgy Ostroumov of the Gorbachev Foundation, a think-tank led by the former head of state. "Gorbachev has a few things to tell them."During the widely publicized trial two years ago at the Constitutional Court, which was to decide on the legality of the Communist Party banned by Yeltsin after the 1991 coup, Gorbachev refused to testify, drawing criticism from supporters as well as enemies.Varennikov, a much-decorated World War II and Afghan war veteran, led the delegation dispatched by top government officials in August 1991 to persuade Gorbachev to step down. Gorbachev reportedly answered with a profanity.Varennikov is charged with "betrayal of the Motherland" and conspiracy to usurp power under Article 64 of the old Soviet criminal code. The article applies because the alleged crime took place before the demise of the Soviet Union.Shteinberg said the charges did not hold water since the 150-volume case contained no indication of what power Varennikov had sought to usurp. Throughout the abortive three-day coup, Varennikov continued to hold the position of commander of the Soviet ground forces and received no promotion."And he certainly didn't betray the Motherland," Shteinberg said. "He didn't act in the interest of any other nation."Shteinberg said he did not believe the court would convict Varennikov as charged, although the political implications would make an acquittal unlikely."Theoretically, the court has many ways to drop the treason charge without a 100 percent acquittal," he said. "The court could start a case on abuse of power charges and send it to the Public Prosecutor's Office for a new investigation."The alleged coup plotters' trial lasted for almost two years because of frequent delays caused by the defendants' poor health. Varennikov was freed from jail in December 1992 because of illness.The trial could prove an interesting rematch of Gorbachev and his reformist team against the conservatives who wanted to overthrow them in 1991.Court officials said amnestied suspects such as former Defense Minister Dmitry Yazov would be called to testify at the trial, while Shteinberg added that he expected the participation of a number of active military and ex-KGB officials.