Declaration of Sovereignty by Russia

On June 12, 1990, the Congress of People’s Deputies of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) declared its sovereignty from the Soviet Union. This pivotal action became a significant stepping stone in the disintegration of the USSR and the establishment of the Russian Federation as an independent state.

Historical Context

In the late 1980s, the Soviet Union was experiencing profound political and economic turmoil. Mikhail Gorbachev’s policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) allowed more freedom of information and decentralized control, unintentionally fostering nationalist movements within various Soviet republics. Within this environment, the RSFSR’s push for greater autonomy gained momentum as regional leaders sought more control over their economies and political affairs.

The Declaration

The sovereignty declaration, officially titled the “Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic,” was adopted by the First Congress of People’s Deputies of the RSFSR. Boris Yeltsin, a key political figure and the chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR, played a prominent role in pushing for the declaration and advocating for Russian sovereignty within the Soviet framework.

Key Provisions

The declaration stipulated several critical principles, including:

• Supremacy of Russian Laws: It asserted that laws of the RSFSR would take precedence over Soviet central laws within its territory.
• Economic Independence: It called for control over the RSFSR’s natural resources and intended to establish an independent economic policy.
• Political Autonomy: The declaration sought greater political self-determination, laying the groundwork for establishing a Russian constitution and presidency.

Consequences and Aftermath

The declaration marked a shift in the balance of power, gradually undermining the authority of the Soviet central government. It emboldened other republics within the Soviet Union to pursue similar declarations of sovereignty.

The move was a catalyst in the chain of events leading to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991. Following the declaration, sovereignty assertions became increasingly bold, with republics like Ukraine and the Baltic States swiftly moving towards full independence. Ultimately, the Soviet Union formally ceased to exist when the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus signed the Belavezha Accords, establishing the Commonwealth of Independent States on December 8, 1991.

Significance

June 12th is now celebrated as Russia Day, commemorating the establishment of Russian sovereignty and the beginning of a new political era characterized by increased democratic reforms and economic restructuring. This day symbolizes the shift towards sovereign statehood and the end of Soviet rule in Russia.