Baklanov was the secretary of the CPSU Central Committee (February 1988 – April 1991) responsible for defense issues, and one of the GKChP members during the 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt. Baklanov worked in an instrument engineering factory in Kharkov, Soviet Ukraine, and later became chief of the factory. He was appointed engineering industry minister of USSR in 1983 and Supreme Soviet deputy (1981–91).