What happened in the satellite states in 1985?

In 1985, significant changes began to unfold in the satellite states of the Soviet Union, largely influenced by Mikhail Gorbachev's rise to power and his policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring). These reforms encouraged greater political freedom and economic reform, leading to increased dissent and calls for independence in countries like Poland, Hungary, and Czechoslovakia. In Poland, the Solidarity movement gained momentum, while other Eastern European nations began to see the emergence of popular movements challenging communist rule. This period marked the beginning of a gradual decline in Soviet control over these states, setting the stage for the eventual collapse of communist regimes across Eastern Europe.