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1991 Soviet Union referendum

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1991 Soviet Union referendum
17 March 1991 (1991-03-17)
Do you consider it necessary to preserve the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as a renewed federation of equal sovereign republics, in which the rights and freedoms of a person of any nationality will be fully guaranteed?
Results
Choice
 Votes %
Yes 113,512,812 77.85%
No 32,303,977 22.15%
Valid votes 145,816,789 98.14%
Invalid or blank votes 2,757,817 1.86%
Total votes 148,574,606 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 185,647,355 80.03%
Results by republic
  95-100% Yes
  90-95% Yes
  85-90% Yes
  80-85% Yes
  75-80% Yes
  70-75% Yes
  Not participating
Voting bulletin

A referendum on the future of the Soviet Union was held on 17 March 1991 across the Soviet Union. It was the only national referendum in the history of the Soviet Union,[1] although it was boycotted by authorities in six of the fifteen Soviet republics.

The referendum asked whether to approve a new Union Treaty between the republics, to replace the 1922 treaty that created the USSR. The question put to most voters was:

Do you consider necessary the preservation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as a renewed federation of equal sovereign republics in which the rights and freedom of an individual of any ethnicity will be fully guaranteed?[2]

In Kazakhstan, the wording of the referendum was changed by substituting "equal sovereign states" for "equal sovereign republics".[3]

In Uzbekistan, Ukraine and Kirghizia additional questions were asked about sovereignty and independence of these republics.

While the vote was boycotted by the authorities in Armenia, Estonia, Georgia (though not in the breakaway provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia),[4] Latvia, Lithuania, and Moldova (though not in Transnistria and Gagauzia),[5] turnout was 80% across the rest of the Soviet Union.[3]

The referendum's question was approved by nearly 80% of voters in all nine other republics that took part.[6] However, the August coup attempt by hardliners of the Communist Party prevented the anticipated signing of the New Union Treaty that was due to take place the next day. Although it failed, the coup attempt reduced confidence in Gorbachev's central government. It was followed by a series of referendums for independence in individual republics and led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union on 26 December 1991.[7]

Question

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The following question was asked:

English Russian Ukrainian
Do you consider it necessary to preserve the USSR as a renewed federation of equal sovereign republics, which will be fully ensured of human rights and freedoms of any nationality? Считаете ли Вы необходимым сохранение Союза Советских Социалистических Республик как обновлённой федерации равноправных суверенных республик, в которой будут в полной мере гарантироваться права и свободы человека любой национальности? Чи вважаєте ви за необхідне збереження Союзу Радянських Соціалістичних Республік як оновленої федерації рівноправних суверенних республік, у якій будуть повною мірою гарантуватися права і свободи людини будь-якої національності?

Overview

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On 24 December 1990, deputies of the 4th Congress of People's Deputies, having voted by name, decided to consider it necessary to preserve the USSR as a renewed federation of equal sovereign republics, which will be fully ensured human rights and freedoms of any nationality.[8] The referendum considered five questions:

  • Do you consider it necessary to preserve the USSR as a renewed federation of equal sovereign republics, which will be fully ensured of human rights and freedoms of any nationality? (Yes/No)
  • Do you consider it necessary to preserve the USSR as a single state? (Yes/No)
  • Do you consider it necessary to preserve the socialist system in the USSR? (Yes/No)
  • Do you consider it necessary to preserve the Soviet government in the renewed Union?[clarification needed] (Yes/No)
  • Do you feel the need to safeguard the Union in the renewed human rights and freedoms of any nationality?[clarification needed] (Yes/No) (Any legal or legislative consequences, in case of acceptance of, or otherwise, was not specified)

On the same day, at the initiative and insistence of General Secretary and President Mikhail Gorbachev,[9][10] the Congress adopted two decisions on holding a referendum on the private ownership of land [6] and on the preservation of the Union as a renewed federation of equal sovereign of Soviet Socialist Republics [7]. For the adoption of the first resolution voted in 1553 deputies, against - 84, abstained - 70. For the adoption of the second resolution voted in 1677 deputies, against - 32, abstained - 66.[9]

However, concerning the first decision the Chairman YH Kalmykov later explained at a session of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR Supreme Council Committee for Legislation, the president asked to refrain from holding a referendum on the issue of private property.[9]

Second course was given to the decree. The first was No. 1856-1 "On holding a referendum of the USSR on the issue of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics", dated 24 December 1990:

[...] due to numerous appeals of workers expressed concern about the fate of the USSR, and given that the preservation of a single union state is the most important issue of public life, affects the interests of each person, all the Soviet Union's population,[11] the Congress of People's Deputies USSR decided:

  1. To conduct a referendum of the USSR to address the issue of maintaining the Union as a renewed federation of equal sovereign Soviet Socialist Republics, taking into account the results of voting for each country separately.
  2. To instruct the USSR Supreme Council set a date for the referendum and ensure its measures.

–Resolution of the USSR from LICs December 24, 1990 No. 1856-1[11]

On 27 December 1990, Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR decided enact the law "On the popular vote (Soviet Union referendum)", effective immediately. Article 5 of the Law specifies that the right to call a referendum belongs to the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR, and on matters not related to the exclusive jurisdiction of the USSR Congress of People's Deputies, in the period between congresses – to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.[12]

On 16 January 1991 the Supreme Council of USSR published Resolution 1910-1 "On the organization and measures to ensure the holding of a referendum of the USSR on the issue of preserving the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics".[13]

Based on the fact that no one, except the people can not take the historical responsibility for the fate of the USSR, pursuant to the decision of the fourth Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR in accordance with the law on the referendum of the USSR. [...] The Supreme Council decides to:

  1. Carry out the entire territory of the Soviet Union on Sunday, 17 March 1991, for the Soviet Union referendum on the preservation of the Soviet Union as a federation of equal republics.
  2. Turn on the ballot for secret voting the following wording of the question put to referendum, and the answers of voting:
    "Do you consider it necessary to preserve the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as a renewed federation of equal sovereign republics, which will fully guarantee the rights and freedoms of all nationalities."
    "Yes or no".
  3. To determine the results of voting by the Union Soviet Socialist Republic as a whole, taking into account the results of voting for each country separately.

–Resolution of the USSR Supreme Soviet of 16 January 1991 № 1910-1[13]

Results

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ChoiceVotes%
For113,512,81277.85
Against32,303,97722.15
Total145,816,789100.00
Valid votes145,816,78998.14
Invalid/blank votes2,757,8171.86
Total votes148,574,606100.00
Registered voters/turnout185,647,35580.03
Source: Nohlen & Stöver[14]

In participating republics

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Republic and Autonomous Oblast For Against Invalid
votes 		Total
votes 		Registered
voters 		Turnout
Votes % Votes %
Russian SFSR 56,860,783 73.00 21,030,753 27.00 1,809,633 79,701,169 105,643,364 75.44
Bashkiria 1,908,875 85.9 269,007 12.1 43,276 2,221,158 2,719,637 81.7
Buryatia 447,438 83.5 78,167 14.6 10,197 535,802 668,231 80.2
Dagestan 670,488 82.6 131,522 16.2 9,999 812,009 1,008,626 80.5
Kabardino-Balkaria 290,380 77.9 77,339 20.8 4,888 372,607 489,436 76.1
Kalmykia 148,462 87.8 17,833 10.5 2,829 169,124 204,301 82.8
Karelia 317,854 76.0 92,703 22.0 7,544 418,101 551,644 75.8
Komi 412,842 76.0 119,678 22.0 10,883 543,403 797,049 75.44
Mari 333,319 79.6 77,239 18.5 8,041 418,599 525,685 79.6
Mordovia 459,021 80.3 101,886 17.8 10,724 571,631 677,706 84.3
North Ossetia 331,823 90.2 32,786 8.9 3,249 367,858 428,307 85.9
Tatarstan 1,708,193 87.5 211,516 10.8 32,059 1,951,768 2,532,383 77.1
Tuva 126,598 91.4 9,404 6.8 2,494 138,496 171,731 80.6
Udmurtia 622,714 76.0 180,289 22.0 16,137 819,140 1,103,083 74.3
Checheno-Ingushetia 318,059 75.9 94,737 22.6 6,216 419,012 712,139 58.8
Chuvashia 616,387 82.4 113,249 15.1 18,784 748,420 900,913 81.3
Yakutia 415,712 76.7 116,798 21.6 9,483 541,993 688,679 78.7
Byelorussia 5,069,313 83.72 986,079 16.28 71,591 6,126,983 7,354,796 83.31
Ukraine 22,110,899 71.48 8,820,089 28.52 583,256 31,514,244 37,732,178 83.52
Gagauzia (Moldavia)
Transnistria (Moldavia)
Abkhazia (Georgia) 164,231 98.5 1,566 0.9 747 166,544 318,317 52.3
South Ossetia (Georgia)
Azerbaijan 2,709,246 94.12 169,225 5.88 25,326 2,903,797 3,866,659 75.10
Nakhichevan 31,328 87.3 3,620 10.1 918 35,866 174,364 20.6
Kazakhstan 8,295,519 95.00 436,560 5.00 84,464 8,816,543 9,999,433 88.17
Kirghizia 2,057,971 95.98 86,246 4.02 30,377 2,174,593 2,341,646 92.87
Tajikistan 2,315,755 96.85 75,300 3.15 16,497 2,407,552 2,549,096 94.45
Turkmenia 1,766,584 98.26 31,203 1.74 6,531 1,804,310 1,846,310 97.66
Uzbekistan 9,196,848 94.73 511,373 5.27 108,112 9,816,333 10,287,938 95.42
Karakalpakstan 563,916 97.6 10,133 1.8 3,668 577,717 584,208 98.9
Source: Direct Democracy

In republics not participating in the Soviet referendums

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An official referendum had been held in Estonia on 3 March 1991 on whether to restore the Estonian republic that had been occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940. The result was 77.8% in favour of restoring the Estonian republic.[15] Latvia also held an official referendum on 3 March 1991, when the overwhelming majority voted to restore the independent Latvian republic. Lithuania had held a referendum on 9 February 1991, in which 93% of voters had approved independence.

Georgia was to hold its own independence referendum two weeks later, and Armenia on 21 September.

Consequently, in these republics, pro-Soviet front-organisations organised voluntary referendums without official sanction.[16][17] Turnout of voting here was considerably less than 50% of the franchised voters of these countries[citation needed], but this information was not included in the official statement of the Central Commission of the Referendum of USSR.[18]

Republic and Autonomous Oblast For Against Invalid
votes 		Total
votes 		Registered
voters
(not equal to
franchised voters) 		Turnout
(based on
registered,
not franchised voters)
Votes % Votes %
Armenia 2,541 72.46 966 27.54 42 3,549 4,923 72.09
Nagorno-Karabakh (Azerbaijan)
Georgia[a] 43,950 99.98 9 0.02 53 44,012 45,696 96.31
Moldova 688,905 98.72 8,916 1.28 3,072 700,893 841,507 83.29
Estonia 211,090 95.46 10,040 4.54 1,110 222,240 299,681 74.16
Latvia 415,147 95.84 18,015 4.16 3,621 436,783 670,828 65.11
Lithuania 496,050 99.13 4,355 0.87 970 436,783 582,262 86.11
Source: Direct Democracy

Additional questions

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In several of the republics, additional questions were added to the ballot. In Russia, an additional question was asked on whether an elective post of the president of Russia should be created. In Kirghizia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan the additional question was on the sovereignty of their republics as part of a new union.[3]

Kirghizia

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In Kirghizia, voters were also asked "Do you agree that the Republic of Kirghizistan should be in the renewed Union as a sovereign republic with equal rights?" It was approved by 62.2% of voters, although turnout was lower at 81.7%, compared to 92.9% in the Union-wide referendum.[19]

ChoiceVotes%
For62.2
Against37.8
Total
Source: Nohlen et al.

Ukraine

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Main article: 1991 Ukrainian sovereignty referendum

In Ukraine, voters were also asked "Do you agree that Ukraine should be part of a Union of Soviet sovereign states on the basis on the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine?"[20] The proposal was approved by 81.7% of voters.[20] Ukraine later held its own referendum on 1 December, in which 92% voted for independence.

ChoiceVotes%
For25,224,68781.69
Against5,655,70118.31
Total30,880,388100.00
Valid votes30,880,38898.14
Invalid/blank votes584,7031.86
Total votes31,465,091100.00
Registered voters/turnout37,689,76783.48
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

At the same day a referendum in the Galician provinces Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, and Ternopil asked the three regions of the USSR about the creation of independent state of Ukraine.[21][22] 88% of the voters in this referendum supported Ukraine's independence.[23]

Uzbekistan

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In Uzbekistan, voters were also asked "Do you agree that Uzbekistan should remain part of a renewed Union (federation) as a sovereign republic with equal rights?" It was approved by 94.9% of voters, with a turnout of 95.5%.[2] On 29 December 98% of Uzbeks would vote for full independence.

ChoiceVotes%
For94.9
Against5.1
Total
Total votes9,824,304–
Registered voters/turnout10,287,93895.49
Source: Nohlen et al.

Aftermath

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For further reading on subsequent events:

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Referendum was held only in Abkhazia and South Ossetia

References

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  1. ^ Ziętara, Wojciech (2018), Marczewska-Rytko, Maria (ed.), "Direct Democracy in Russia", Handbook of Direct Democracy in Central and Eastern Europe after 1989 (1 ed.), Verlag Barbara Budrich, pp. 242–259, doi:10.2307/j.ctvddzwx6.20, ISBN 978-3-8474-2122-1, JSTOR j.ctvddzwx6.20, archived from the original on 24 January 2023, retrieved 19 December 2022
  2. ^ a b Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume I, p492 ISBN 0-19-924958-X
  3. ^ a b c Referendum of March 1991 Archived 2 August 2018 at the Wayback Machine Russian History Encyclopedia on Answers.com
  4. ^ (in Russian) Chronicle of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict (1988-2008) Archived 31 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Historical Overview of the PMR (Transnistria, Transdniestr, Transdnestr, Pridnestrovie) Archived 22 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Understanding the Cold War: A Historian's Personal Reflections Archived 24 January 2023 at the Wayback Machine by Adam Bruno Ulam, Leopolis Press, 2000, ISBN 0-9679960-0-7 (page 353)
  7. ^ Russia and the World Economy: Problems of Integration Archived 24 January 2023 at the Wayback Machine by Alan H. Smith, Routledge, 1993, ISBN 0-415-08925-5 (page 1)
  8. ^ Постановление СНД СССР от 24 декабря 1990 года № 1853-1 «О сохранении Союза ССР как обновлённой федерации равноправных суверенных республик» // Ведомости СНД и ВС СССР. — 1990. — № 52. — ст. 1158.
  9. ^ a b c Любарев А. Е. Выборы в Москве: опыт двенадцати лет. 1989—2000 Archived 10 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine. — М.: Стольный град, 2001. — 412 с. — ISBN 5-89910-019-2.
  10. ^ Съездом было принято два постановления о проведении референдумов по вопросу о частной собственности на землю
  11. ^ a b Постановление СНД СССР от 24 декабря 1990 года № 1856-1 «О проведении референдума СССР по вопросу о Союзе Советских Социалистических Республик» // Ведомости СНД и ВС СССР. — 1990. — № 52. — ст. 1161.
  12. ^ Закон СССР от 27 декабря 1990 года № 1869-1 «О всенародном голосовании (референдуме СССР)» // Ведомости СНД и ВС СССР. — 1991. — № 1. — ст. 10.
  13. ^ a b Постановление ВС СССР от 16 января 1991 года № 1910-1 «Об организации и мерах по обеспечению проведения референдума СССР по вопросу о сохранении Союза Советских Социалистических Республик» // Ведомости СНД и ВС СССР. 1991. — № 4. — ст. 87.
  14. ^ Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1647 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
  15. ^ "Chronology". 6 September 2012.
  16. ^ Об итогах референдума СССР, состоявшегося 17 марта 1991 года (Из сообщения Центральной комиссии референдума СССР) // Известия. — 1991. — 27 марта.
  17. ^ (in Russian) Воля, которую мы потеряли... "Время" № 5. 16 марта 2001 года Archived 19 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ (in Russian)Сообщение Центральной комиссии референдума СССР об итогах референдума СССР, состоявшегося 17 марта 1991 года // Правда. — 1991. — 27 марта.
  19. ^ Nohlen et al., p443
  20. ^ a b Nohlen & Stöver, p1985
  21. ^ Dissolution: Sovereignty and the Breakup of the Soviet Union[permanent dead link] by Edward W. Walker, Rowman & Littlefield, 2003, ISBN 0742524523 (134)
  22. ^ The Ukrainian West: Culture and the Fate of Empire in Soviet Lviv Archived 24 January 2023 at the Wayback Machine by William Jay Risch, Harvard University Press, 2011, ISBN 0674050010, (page 4)
  23. ^ Cleft Countries: Regional Political Divisions and Cultures in Post-Soviet Ukraine and Moldova (Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics and Society 33) Archived 24 January 2023 at the Wayback Machine by Ivan Katchanovski, 2006, ISBN 389821558X (page 40)
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