Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic

"Soviet Russia" redirects here. For the former socialist nation as a whole, seeSoviet Union.For other uses, seeSoviet Russia (disambiguation).

Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic Российская Советская Федеративная Социалистическая Республика
1917–1991
Top: Flag (1918–1937) Bottom: Flag (1954–1991) Top: Emblem (1918–1920) Bottom: Emblem (1978–1991)
Motto:Пролетарии всех стран, соединяйтесь! ( "Workers of the world, unite!")
Anthem: "Worker's Marseillaise" (1917–1918) "The Internationale" (1918–1944) "State Anthem of the Soviet Union" (1944–1990) "Patrioticheskaya Pesnya" (1990–1991)
The Russian SFSR (red) within theSoviet Union(red and white) between 1956 and 1991
Status	1917–1922: Sovereign state 1922–1991: Union Republicof theSoviet Union 1990–1991: Union Republic of the Soviet Union with priority ofrepublican legislation
Capital	Petrograd (1917–1918) Moscow (1918–1991)
Largest city	Moscow
Official languages	Russianb
Recognised languages	SeeLanguages of Russia
Religion	Secular state(de jure) State atheism(de facto) Russian Orthodoxy(majority)
Demonym(s)	Russian
Government	1917–1921: Federalparliamentarysocialistsovietdirectorial republic 1921–1990: FederalMarxist–Leninistone-partyparliamentarysocialistsovietdirectorial republic 1990–1991: Federalmulti-partyparliamentaryrepublic July–December 1991: Federalmulti-partysemi-presidentialrepublic
Head of state
• 1917 (first)	Lev Kamenevc
•1990–1991(last)	Boris Yeltsind
Head of government
• 1917–1924 (first)	Vladimir Lenine
• 1990–1991	Ivan Silayevf
• 1991 (last)	Boris Yeltsing
Legislature	1917–1938: VTsIK/Congress of Soviets 1938–1990: Supreme Soviet 1990–1991: Congress of People's Deputies
Historical era	World War I Interwar period World War II Cold War
•October Revolution	7 November 1917
•Russian Civil War	1917–1923
• Soviet republic proclaimed	25 January 1918
•USSR formed	30 December 1922
•CrimeatransferredtoUkrainian SSR	19 February 1954
•State sovereignty	12 June 1990
•Belovezh Accords	12 December 1991
• Russian SFSR renamed into the Russian Federation	25 December 1991
•Dissolution of the Soviet Union	26 December 1991
•End of the Soviet political system	25 December 1993
Area
1956	17,125,200 km2(6,612,100 sq mi)
Population
• 1989	147,386,000
Currency	Soviet ruble(Rbl)h(SUR)
Time zone	(UTC+2 to +12)
Calling code	+7
ISO 3166 code	RU
Internet TLD	.su
Preceded by Succeeded by 1918: Russian Republic 1920: Russian State 1922: Far Eastern Republic 1923: Priamurye Government 1940: Finland (portion) 1944: Tuva 1945: Germany (portion) Japan (portion) 1956: Karelo-Finnish SSR 1918: Ukrainian People's Republic (portion) Estonia (portion) Belarusian People's Republic (portion) Latvia (portion) 1922: Soviet Union 1924: Uzbek SSR (portion) 1925: Turkmen SSR 1926: Byelorussian SSR (portion) 1936: Kazakh SSR 1940: Karelo-Finnish SSR 1991: China (portion) Russian Federation
Remained thenational anthem of Russiauntil 2000. Official language in the courts from 1937. As Chairman of the VTsIK (All-Russian Central Executive Committee). As chairman theSupreme Soviet of the RSFSRfrom 29 May 1990 to 10 July 1991, then as President. As Chairman of theCouncil of People's Commissars of the Russian SFSR As Chairmen of the Council of Ministers – Government of the Russian SFSR Served as acting head of government whilePresident of Russia Between 1917 and 1919 theImperial rublelost all of its value due to overprinting. It would be replaced that same year by the new Soviet ruble.
SevenHero Cityawards TheRussian Democratic Federative Republicexisted briefly on 19 January 1918, but actualsovereigntywas still in the hands of the Soviets even after theRussian Constituent Assemblyopened its first and last session in 1918.

TheRussian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic(Russian SFSRorRSFSR;Russian:Российская Советская Федеративная Социалистическая Республика,IPA:[rɐˈsʲijskəjəsɐˈvʲetskəjəfʲɪdʲɪrɐˈtʲivnəjəsətsɨəlʲɪˈsʲtʲitɕɪskəjərʲɪˈspublʲɪkə]), previously known as theRussian Soviet Republicand theRussian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic,and unofficially asSoviet Russia,was anindependentfederalsocialist statefrom 1917 to 1922, and afterwards the largest and most populousconstituent republicof theSoviet Union(USSR) from 1922 to 1991, until becoming asovereign partof the Soviet Union with priority of Russian laws over Union-level legislation in 1990 and 1991, the last two years of the existence of the USSR.The Russian SFSR was composed of sixteen smaller constituent units ofautonomous republics,fiveautonomous oblasts,tenautonomous okrugs,sixkraisand fortyoblasts.Russiansformed the largestethnic group.The capital of the Russian SFSR and the USSR as a whole wasMoscowand the other majorurban centersincludedLeningrad(Petrograd until 1924),Stalingrad(Volgograd after 1961),Novosibirsk,Sverdlovsk,GorkyandKuybyshev.It was the firstsocialist statein the world.

The economy of Russia became heavily industrialized, accounting for about two-thirds of the electricity produced in the USSR. By 1961, it was the third largest producer of petroleum due to new discoveries in theVolga-Urals regionand Siberia, trailing in production to only the United States and Saudi Arabia.In 1974, there were 475 institutes of higher education in the republic providing education in 47 languages to some 23,941,000 students. A network of territorially organized public-health services provided health care.The economy, which had becomestagnantsince the late 1970s under General SecretaryLeonid Brezhnev,began to be liberalized starting in 1985 under Gorbachev's "perestroika"restructuring policies, including the introduction of non-state owned enterprises (e.g. cooperatives).

On 7 November 1917 [O.S. 25 October], as a result of theOctober Revolution,the Russian Soviet Republic was proclaimed as asovereign stateand the world's first constitutionallysocialist stateguided bycommunist ideology.The firstconstitutionwas adopted in 1918. In 1922, the Russian SFSR signed atreatyofficially creating the USSR. The Russian SFSR's1978 constitutionstated that "[a] Union Republic is a sovereign [...] state that has united [...] in the Union"and "each Union Republic shall retain the right freely to secede from the USSR".On 12 June 1990, theCongress of People's Deputiesadopted theDeclaration of State Sovereignty,establishedseparation of powers(unlike in theSoviet form of government), establishedcitizenship of Russiaand stated that the RSFSR shall retain the right of free secession from the USSR. On 12 June 1991,Boris Yeltsin(1931–2007), supported by theDemocratic Russiapro-reform movement, waselectedthe first and only President of the RSFSR, a post that would later become thePresidency of the Russian Federation.

TheAugust 1991 Soviet coup d'état attemptin Moscow with the temporary brief internment of PresidentMikhail Gorbachevdestabilised the Soviet Union. Following these events, Gorbachev lost all his remaining power, with Yeltsin superseding him as the pre-eminent figure in the country. On 8 December 1991, the heads of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus signed theBelovezha Accords.The agreement declared dissolution of the USSR by its original founding states (i.e., renunciation of the 1922 Treaty on the Creation of the USSR) and established theCommonwealth of Independent States(CIS) as a loose replacement confederation. On 12 December, the agreement was ratified by the Supreme Soviet (the parliament of the Russian SFSR); therefore the Russian SFSR had renounced the Treaty on the Creation of the USSR andde factodeclared Russia's independence from the USSR itself and the ties with the other Soviet republics.

On 25 December 1991, following the resignation of Gorbachev asPresident of the Soviet Union(and formerGeneral Secretaryof theCommunist Party of the Soviet Union), the Russian SFSR was renamed theRussian Federation.The next day, after the lowering of theSoviet flagfrom the top of theSenatebuilding of theMoscow Kremlinand its replacement by theRussian flag,theUSSR was self-dissolvedby theSoviet of the Republicson 26 December, which by that time was the only functioning parliamentary chamber of theAll-Union Supreme Soviet(the other house,Soviet of the Union,had already lost thequorumafter recall of its members by the several union republics). After the dissolution, Russia took full responsibility for all the rights and obligations of the USSR under the Charter of the United Nations, including the financial obligations. As such, Russia assumed the Soviet Union'sUN membership and permanent membership on the Security Council,nuclear stockpile and the control over the armed forces; Soviet embassies abroad became Russian embassies.

The 1978 constitution of the Russian SFSR was amended several times to reflect the transition to democracy, private property and market economy. The newRussian constitution,coming into effect on 25 December 1993 after aconstitutional crisis,completely abolished theSoviet form of governmentand replaced it with asemi-presidential system.

Nomenclature

See also:Name of Russia

Under theleadershipofVladimir Lenin(1870–1924) andLeon Trotsky(1879–1940), theBolshevikcommunistsestablished theSovietstate on 7 November [O.S.25 October] 1917. This happened immediately after theOctober Revolutiontoppled the interimRussian Provisional Government(most recently led by opposing democratic socialistAlexander Kerensky(1881–1970)) which had governed the newRussian Republicafter the abdication of theRussian Empiregovernment of theRomanovimperial dynasty of TsarNicholas IIthe previousMarch(Old Style: February). The October Revolution was thus the second of the twoRussian Revolutionsof the turbulent year of 1917. Initially, the new Soviet state did not have an official name and was not recognized by neighboring countries for five months.

Anti-Bolsheviks soon suggested new names, however. By 1919 they had coined the mocking labelSovdepia(Russian:Совдепия) for the nascent state of the Soviets of Workers' and Peasants' Deputies.Speakers of colloquial English coined the term "Bololand" to refer to the land of theBolos(a term identified from 1919 onwards with the Bolsheviks).

On 25 January 1918 the third meeting of theAll-Russian Congress of Sovietsproclaimed the establishment of theRussian Soviet Republic.The new Soviet authorities and theCentral Powerssigned theTreaty of Brest-Litovskon 3 March 1918, transferring much of the border territory in the west of the formerRussian Empireto theGerman Empireor to its satellites in exchange for peace during the last year of the rest ofWorld War I.In July 1918, the fifthAll-Russian Congress of Sovietsadopted both the new name,Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic(RSFSR), and theConstitution of the Russian SFSR.

Internationally, the Russian SFSR was recognized as an independent state in 1920 only by its bordering neighbors (Estonia,Finland,LatviaandLithuania) in theTreaty of Tartuand by the short-livedIrish Republicof 1919–1922 in Ireland.

On 30 December 1922,with the treaty on the creation of the Soviet Union,Russia (the RSFSR), alongside the Transcaucasian SFSR, the Ukrainian SSR and the Byelorussian SSR, formed theUnion of Soviet Socialist Republics.The final Soviet name for the constituent republic, the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, was adopted in the laterSoviet Constitution of 1936.By that time, Soviet Russia had gained roughly the same borders of the oldTsardom of Russiabefore theGreat Northern Warof 1700 to 1721.

The RSFSR dominated the Soviet Union to such an extent that for most of the Soviet Union's existence, it was commonly, but incorrectly, referredto as Russia; this position is comparable to that ofEnglandwithin theUnited Kingdom.Technically, Russia itself was only one republic within the larger union – albeit by far the largest, most powerful and most highly developedof the 15 republics. Nevertheless, according to historian Matthew Whiteit was an open secret that the country's federal structure was "window dressing" for Russian dominance.For that reason, the people of the USSR were almost always called"Russians", not "Soviets", since "everyone knew who really ran the show".

On 25 December 1991, during thecollapse of the Soviet Union,which concluded on the next day, the RSFSR'sofficial namewas changed to theRussian Federation,which it remains to this day.This name and "Russia" were specified as the official state names on 21 April 1992, in an amendment to thethen existing Constitution of 1978,and were retained as such in the subsequent1993 Constitution of Russia.

Geography

At a total of about 17,125,200 km (6,612,100 sq mi), the Russian SFSR was the largest of the fifteen Soviet republics, with its southerly neighbor, theKazakh SSR,being second.

The international borders of the RSFSR touchedPolandon the west;NorwayandFinlandofScandinaviaon the northwest; and to its southeast in eastern Asia were theDemocratic People's Republic of Korea(North Korea),Mongolian People's Republic(Mongolia) and the People's Republic of China (China, formerly theRepublic of China;1911–1949). Within the Soviet Union, the RSFSR bordered theSlavicstates:Ukrainian SSR(Ukraine),Belarusian SSR(Belarus), theBalticstates:Estonian SSR(Estonia),Latvian SSR(Latvia) andLithuanian SSR(Lithuania) (Included in USSR in 1940) to its west and theAzerbaijan SSR(Azerbaijan),Georgian SSR(Georgia) andKazakh SSR(Kazakhstan) to the south in Central Asia.

Roughly 70% of the area in the RSFSR consisted of broadplains,with mountainous tundra regions mainly concentrated in the east ofSiberiawith Central Asia and East Asia. The area is rich in mineral resources, including petroleum, natural gas, and iron ore.

History

Early years (1917–1920)

Vladimir Lenin,founder of theSoviet Unionand the leader of theBolshevik party.

Leon Trotsky,founder of theRed Armyand a key figure in theOctober Revolution.

The Soviet government first came to power on 7 November 1917, immediately after the interimRussian Provisional Governmentheaded byAlexander Kerensky,which governed theRussian Republic,was overthrown in theOctober Revolution,the second of the twoRussian Revolutions.The state it governed, which did not have an official name, would be unrecognized by neighboring countries for another five months. The initial stage of the October Revolution which involved the assault onPetrogradoccurred largely without any humancasualties.

On 18 January 1918, the newly electedConstituent Assemblyissued a decree, proclaiming Russia a democratic federal republic under the name "Russian Democratic Federal Republic". However, the Bolsheviks dissolved the Assembly on the following day and declared its decrees null and void.Conversely, the Bolsheviks also reserved a number of vacant seats in the Soviets andCentral Executivefor the opposition parties in proportion to their vote share at the Congress.At the same time, a number of prominent members of theLeft Socialist Revolutionarieshad assumed positions in Lenin's government and lead commissariats in several areas. This included agriculture (Kolegaev), property (Karelin), justice (Steinberg), post offices and telegraphs (Proshian) and local government (Trutovsky).Lenin's government also instituted a number of progressive measures such asuniversal education,healthcareandequal rights for women.

On 25 January 1918, at the third meeting of theAll-Russian Congress of Soviets,the establishment of the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic (RSFSR) was proclaimed.On 3 March 1918, theTreaty of Brest-Litovskwas signed, giving away much of the westernmost lands of the formerRussian Empireto theGerman Empire,in exchange for peace on theEastern Frontof World War I. In July 1918, the fifthAll-Russian Congress of Sovietsadopted theConstitution of the Russian SFSR.By 1918, during theRussian Civil War,several stateswithin the former Russian Empire had seceded, reducing the size of the country even more, although some were conquered by the Bolsheviks.

1920s

The Russian SFSR in 1922

The Russian SFSR in 1924

The Russian SFSR in 1929

TheRussian famine of 1921–22,also known asPovolzhyefamine, killed an estimated 5 million, primarily affecting the Volga and Ural River regions.

The economic impact of the Civil War was devastating. Ablack marketemerged in Russia, despite the threat ofmartial lawagainst profiteering. Therublecollapsed, withbarterincreasingly replacing money as a medium of exchangeand, by 1921, heavy industry output had fallen to 20% of 1913 levels. 90% of wages were paid with goods rather than money.70% of locomotives were in need of repair,and food requisitioning, combined with the effects of seven years of war and a severe drought, contributed to a famine that caused between 3 and 10 million deaths.Coal production decreased from 27.5 million tons (1913) to 7 million tons (1920), while overall factory production also declined from 10,000 million roubles to 1,000 million roubles. According to the noted historian David Christian, the grain harvest was also slashed from 80.1 million tons (1913) to 46.5 million tons (1920).

On 30 December 1922, theFirst Congress of the Soviets of the USSRapproved theTreaty on the Creation of the USSR,by which Russia was united with theUkrainian Soviet Socialist Republic,Byelorussian Soviet Socialist RepublicandTranscaucasian Soviet Federal Socialist Republicinto a single federal state, the Soviet Union. The treaty was included in the1924 Soviet Constitution,adopted on 31 January 1924 by theSecond Congress of Soviets of the USSR.

One of the early ambitious economic plans of the Soviet government wasGOELRO,Russian abbreviation for "State Commission for Electrification of Russia" (Государственная комиссия поэлектрификацииРоссии), which sought to achieve totalelectrificationof the entire country. Soviet propaganda declared the plan was basically fulfilled by 1931.The national power output per year stood at 1.9 billionkWhinImperial Russiain 1913, and Lenin's goal of 8.8 billion kWh was reached in 1931. National power output continued to increase significantly. It reached 13.5 billion kWh by the end of thefirst five-year planin 1932, 36 billion kWh by 1937, and 48 billion kWh by 1940.

Paragraph 3 of Chapter 1 of the 1925 Constitution of the RSFSR stated the following:

By the will of the peoples of the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic, who decided on the formation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics during theTenth All-Russian Congress of Soviets,the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic, being a part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, devolves to the Union the powers which according to Article 1 of the Constitution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics are included within the scope of responsibilities of the government bodies of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

1930s

The Russian SFSR in 1936

Many regions in Russia were affected by theSoviet famine of 1932–1933:Volga,Central Black Soil Region,North Caucasus,theUrals,the Crimea,part ofWestern Siberia,and theKazakh ASSR.With the adoption of the1936 Soviet Constitutionon 5 December 1936, the size of the RSFSR was significantly reduced. TheKazakh ASSRandKirghiz ASSRwere transformed into theKazakh SSR(nowKazakhstan) andKirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic(Kyrgyzstan). The formerKarakalpak Autonomous Socialist Soviet Republicwas transferred to theUzbek Soviet Socialist Republic(Uzbekistan).

The final name for the republic during the Soviet era was adopted by the Russian Constitution of 1937, which renamed it the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR).

1940s

See also:Eastern Front (World War II)andGreat Patriotic War (term)

The Russian SFSR in 1940

Just four months afterOperation Barbarossa,theWehrmachtwas quickly advancing through the Russian SFSR, and was approximately 10 miles (16 km) away from Moscow. However, after the defeat in theBattle of Moscowand theSoviet winter offensive,the Germans were pushed back. In 1942, the Wehrmacht enteredStalingrad.Despite a deadly 5 month lastingbattlein which the Soviets suffered over 1,100,000 casualties, they achieved victory following the surrender of the last German troops near theVolga River,ultimately pushing German forces out of Russia by 1944.

In 1943,Karachay Autonomous Oblastwas dissolved byJoseph Stalin(1878–1953), General Secretary of theCommunist Party,later Premier, when theKarachayswere exiled to Central Asia for their alleged collaboration with the invadingGermansin theGreat Patriotic War(World War II,1941–1945), and territory was incorporated into theGeorgian SSR.

On 3 March 1944, on the orders of Stalin, theChechen-Ingush ASSRwas disbanded and itspopulation forcibly deportedupon the accusations ofcollaborationwith the invaders andseparatism.The territory of the ASSR was divided between other administrative units of Russian SFSR and theGeorgian SSR.

On 11 October 1944, theTuvan People's Republicwas joined with the Russian SFSR as theTuvan Autonomous Oblast,becoming anAutonomous Soviet Socialist Republicin 1961.

Afterreconquering Estonia and Latviain 1944, the Russian SFSR annexed their easternmost territories aroundIvangorodand within the modernPechorskyandPytalovsky Districtsin 1944–1945.

TheBattle of Stalingrad,considered by many historians as a decisive turning point of World War II

At the end of World War II Soviet troops of theRed Armyoccupied southernSakhalinIsland and theKuril Islandsoff the coast of East Asia, north ofJapan,making them part of the RSFSR. The status of the southernmost Kurils, north ofHokkaidoof the Japanese home islands remains in dispute with Japan and the United States following the peace treaty of 1951 ending the state of war.

On 17 April 1946, theKaliningrad Oblast– the north-eastern portion of the formerKingdom of Prussia,the founding state of theGerman Empire(1871–1918) and later theGermanprovince ofEast Prussiaincluding the capital andBalticseaport city ofKönigsberg– was annexed by the Soviet Union and made part of the Russian SFSR.

1950s

The Russian SFSR in 1956–1991

After the death of Joseph Stalin on 5 March 1953,Georgy Malenkovbecame the new leader of the USSR. In January 1954, Malenkovtransferred Crimeafrom the Russian SFSR to theUkrainian SSR.On 8 February 1955, Malenkov was officially demoted to deputy Prime Minister. As First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, Nikita Khrushchev's authority was significantly enhanced by Malenkov's demotion.

TheKarelo-Finnish SSRwas transferred back to the RSFSR as theKarelian ASSRin 1956.

On 9 January 1957,Karachay Autonomous OblastandChechen-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republicwere restored by Khrushchev and they were transferred from theGeorgian SSRback to theRussian SFSR.

1960s–1980s

Ethnographic map of the Soviet Union, 1970

In 1964, Nikita Khrushchev was removed from his position of power and replaced withLeonid Brezhnev.Under his rule, the Russian SFSR and the rest of the Soviet Union went through a massera of stagnation.Even after Brezhnev's death in 1982, the era did not end untilMikhail Gorbachevtook power in March 1985 and introduced liberal reforms in Soviet society.

On 12 April 1978, a newConstitution of Russiawas adopted.

Early 1990s

Main articles:Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic,1991 Soviet coup d'etat attempt,Belovezh Accords,and1993 Russian constitutional crisis

On 29 May 1990, at his third attempt, Boris Yeltsin waselectedthe chairman of theSupreme Soviet of the Russian SFSR.TheCongress of People's Deputies of the Republicadopted theDeclaration of State Sovereignty of the Russian SFSRon 12 June 1990, which was the beginning of the "War of Laws",pitting the Soviet Union against the Russian Federation and other constituent republics.

Flag adopted by the Russian SFSR national parliament in 1991

On 17 March 1991, anall-Russian referendumcreated the post ofPresident of the RSFSRand on 12 June,Boris Yeltsinwas elected president bypopular vote.

During the unsuccessful1991 Soviet coup d'état attemptof 19–21 August 1991 inMoscow,the capital of the Soviet Union and Russia, Yeltsin strongly supported the President of the Soviet Union,Mikhail Gorbachev.On 23 August, Yeltsin, in the presence of Gorbachev, signed a decree suspending all activity by theCommunist Party of the Russian SFSRin the territory of Russia.On 6 November, he went further, banning the Communist Parties of the USSR and the RSFSR in the RSFSR.

On 8 December 1991, atViskulinearBrest (Belarus),Yeltsin, Ukrainian PresidentLeonid Kravchukand Belarusian leaderStanislav Shushkevichsigned the "Agreement on the Establishment of the Commonwealth of Independent States", known in media as theBelovezh Accords.The document, consisting of a preamble and fourteen articles, stated that the Soviet Union no longer existed "as a subject ofinternational lawand geopolitical reality ". However, based on the historical community of peoples and relations between the three states, as well as bilateral treaties, the desire for a democratic rule of law, the intention to develop their relations based on mutual recognition and respect for state sovereignty, the parties agreed to the formation of theCommonwealth of Independent States.On 12 December, the agreement was ratified by theSupreme Soviet of the Russian SFSRby an overwhelming majority: 188 votes for, 6 against and 7 abstentions.The legality of this ratification raised doubts among some members of the Russian parliament, since according to the Constitution of the RSFSR of 1978 consideration of this document was in the exclusive jurisdiction of theCongress of People's Deputies of the RSFSR.However, by this time the Soviet government had been rendered more or less impotent, and was in no position to object. On the same day, the Supreme Soviet of the Russian SFSR denounced theTreaty on the Creation of the USSRand recalled all Russian deputies from the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union. A number of lawyers believe that the denunciation of the union treaty was meaningless since it became invalid in 1924 with the adoption of thefirst constitution of the USSR.Although the 12 December vote is sometimes reckoned as the moment that the RSFSR seceded from the collapsing Soviet Union, this is not the case. It appears that the RSFSR took the line that it did not need to follow the secession process delineated in the Soviet Constitution because it was not possible to secede from a country that no longer existed.

On 24 December, Yeltsin informed theSecretary-General of the United Nationsthat by agreement of the member states of the CIS the Russian Federation would assume the membership of the Soviet Union in all UN organs (including the Soviet Union's permanent seat on theUN Security Council). Russia took full responsibility for all the rights and obligations of the USSR under the Charter of the United Nations, including the financial obligations, and assumed control over its nuclear stockpile and the armed forces; Soviet embassies abroad became Russian embassies.On 25 December – just hours after Gorbachev resigned as president of the Soviet Union – the Russian SFSR was renamed the Russian Federation (Russia), reflecting that it was now a sovereign state with Yeltsin assuming thePresidency.That same night, theSoviet flagwas lowered and replaced with thetricolor.The Soviet Union officially ceased to exist the next day. The change was originally published on 6 January 1992 (Rossiyskaya Gazeta). According to law, during 1992, it was allowed to use the old name of the RSFSR for official business (forms, seals, and stamps).

On 21 April 1992, the Congress of People's Deputies of Russia approved the renaming of the RSFSR into the Russian Federation, by making appropriate amendments to the Constitution, which entered into force since publication on 16 May 1992.

Government

Main article:Government of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic

See also:List of leaders of the Russian SFSR

The Government was known officially as theCouncil of People's Commissars(1917–1946) and Council of Ministers (1946–1991). The first government was headed by Vladimir Lenin as Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the Russian SFSR and the last by Boris Yeltsin as both head of government and head of state under the title of president. The Russian SFSR was controlled by theCommunist Party of the Soviet Unionuntil the1991 August coup,which prompted President Yeltsin to suspend the recently createdCommunist Party of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.

Autonomous republics within the Russian SFSR

• Turkestan ASSRwas formed on 30 April 1918 on the territory of the formerTurkestan General-Governorate.As part of thedelimitation programmeofSoviet Central Asia,the Turkestan ASSR along with theKhorezm SSRand theBukharan PSRwere disbanded on 27 October 1924 and replaced by the Soviet Union republics ofTurkmen SSRandUzbek SSR.The latter contained theTajik ASSRuntil December 1929, when it too became a full Union republic, theTajik SSR.The RSFSR retained the newly formedKara-Kirghizand theKara-Kalpakautonomous oblasts. The latter was part of the Kirgiz, then the Kazak ASSR until 1930 when it was directly subordinated to Moscow.
• Bashkir ASSRwas formed on 23 March 1919 from several northern districts of theOrenburg Governoratepopulated byBashkirs.On 11 October 1990, it declared its sovereignty, as the Bashkir SSR, which in 1992 was renamed theRepublic of Bashkortostan.
• Tatar ASSRwas formed on 27 May 1920 on the territory of the western two-thirds of theKazan Governoratepopulated byTatars.On 30 October 1990, it declared sovereignty as theRepublic of Tatarstanand on 18 October 1991 declared its independence. The Russian constitutional court overturned the declaration on 13 March 1992. In February 1994, a separate agreement was reached with Moscow on the status of Tatarstan as an associate state in Russia with confederate status.
• Kirgiz ASSRwas formed on 26 August 1920 from theUral,Turgay,Semipalatinskoblasts and parts ofTranscaspia,Bukey HordeandOrenburg Governoratepopulated by Kirgiz-Kaysaks (former name ofKazakh people). Further enlarged in 1921 upon gaining land fromOmsk Governorateand again in 1924 from parts ofJetysui GovernorateandSyr DaryaandSamarkandoblasts. On 19 April 1925, it was renamed Kazak ASSR. (see below)
• Mountain ASSRwas formed on 20 January 1921 after the Bolshevik Red Army evicted the short-livedMountainous Republic of the Northern Caucasus.Initially composed of several national districts, one-by-one these left the republic until 7 November 1924 when the remains of the republic was partitioned into theIngush Autonomous Oblast,theNorth Ossetian Autonomous Oblastand theSunzha Cossack District(all subordinates to theNorth Caucasus Krai).
• Dagestan ASSRwas formed on 20 January 1921 from the formerDagestan Oblast.On 17 September 1991, it declared sovereignty as the Dagestan SSR.
• Crimean ASSRwas formed on 18 October 1921 on the territory ofCrimean peninsulawithin the Russian SFSR, following theRed Army's defeat ofBaron Wrangel's Army, ending the Russian Civil War in Europe. On 18 May 1944, it was reduced to the status ofoblastalongside the criminaldeportation of the Crimean Tatars,now recognized as genocide, as collective punishment for alleged collaboration with the German occupation regime inTaurida Subdistrict.On 19 February 1954, the oblast wastransferred to the Ukrainian SSR.Re-established on 12 February 1991, it declared sovereignty on 4 September of that year. On 5 May 1992, it declared independence as theRepublic of Crimea.On 13 May, theVerkhovna Radaof Ukraine overturned the declaration, but compromised on anAutonomous Republic of Crimeawithin Ukraine. After the2014 Ukrainian revolution,aRussian military interventionand adisputed referendum,Crimea wasannexed by Russiain March 2014, a move largely considered illegal by the international community.
• Yakut ASSRwas formed on 16 February 1922 upon the elevation of theYakut Autonomous Oblastinto an ASSR. On 27 September 1990, it declared sovereignty as the Yakut-Sakha Soviet Socialist Republic. From 21 December 1991, it has been known as theRepublic of Sakha (Yakutia).
• Buryat ASSRwas formed on 30 March 1923 as due to the merger of theMongol-Buryat Autonomous Oblastof the RSFSR and theBuryat-Mongol Autonomous Oblastof theFar Eastern Republic.Until 7 July 1958 – Mongol-Buryat ASSR. On 27 March 1991, it became theRepublic of Buryatia.
• Karelian ASSRwas formed on 23 July 1923 when theKarelian Labor Communewas integrated into the RSFSR's administrative structure. On 31 March 1940, it was elevated into a full Union republic as theKarelo-Finnish SSR.On 16 July 1956, it was downgraded in status to that of an ASSR and re-subordinated to RSFSR. It declared sovereignty on 13 October 1991 as theRepublic of Karelia.
• Volga German ASSRwas formed on 19 December 1924 upon elevation of theVolga German Autonomous Oblastinto an ASSR. On 28 August 1941, upon the deportation ofVolga Germansto Central Asia, the ASSR was disbanded. The territory was partitioned between theSaratovandStalingrad Oblasts.
• Kazak ASSRwas formed on 19 April 1925 when the firstKirghiz ASSRwas renamed and partitioned. Upon the ratification of the new Soviet constitution, the ASSR was elevated into a full Union Republic on 3 December 1936. On 25 October 1990, it declared sovereignty and on 16 December 1991 its independence as theRepublic of Kazakhstan.
• Chuvash ASSRwas formed on 21 April 1925 upon the elevation of theChuvash Autonomous Oblastinto an ASSR. It declared sovereignty on 26 October 1990 as the Chuvash SSR.
• Kirghiz ASSRwas formed on 1 February 1926 upon elevation of theKirghiz Autonomous Oblast.Upon the ratification of the new Soviet constitution, the ASSR was elevated into a full Union Republic on 3 December 1936. On 12 December 1990, it declared sovereignty as theRepublic of Kyrgyzstanand on 31 August 1991 its independence.
• Kara-Kalpak ASSRwas formed on 20 March 1932 upon elevation of theKara-Kalpak Autonomous Oblastinto the Kara-Kalpak ASSR; from 5 December 1936 a part of theUzbek SSR.In 1964, it was renamed the Karakalpak ASSR. It declared sovereignty on 14 December 1990.
• Mordovian ASSRwas formed on 20 December 1934 upon the elevation ofMordovian Autonomous Oblastinto an ASSR. It declared sovereignty on 13 December 1990 as the Mordovian SSR. Since 25 January 1991, it has been known as theRepublic of Mordovia.
• Udmurt ASSRwas formed on 28 December 1934 upon the elevation ofUdmurt Autonomous Oblastinto an ASSR. It declared sovereignty on 20 September 1990. Since 11 October 1991, it has been known as theUdmurt Republic.
• Kalmyk ASSRwas formed on 20 October 1935 upon the elevation ofKalmyk Autonomous Oblastinto an ASSR. On 27 December 1943, upon the deportation of the Kalmyks, the ASSR was disbanded and split between the newly establishedAstrakhan Oblastand parts adjoined toRostov Oblast,Krasnodar KraiandStavropol Krai.On 9 January 1957, Kalmyk Autonomous Oblast was re-established in its present borders, first as a part of Stavropol Krai and from 19 July 1958 as a part of the Kalmyk ASSR. On 18 October 1990, it declared sovereignty as the Kalmyk SSR.
• Kabardino-Balkar ASSRwas formed on 5 December 1936 upon the departure of theKabardino-Balkar Autonomous Oblastfrom theNorth Caucasus Kray.After the deportation of theBalkarson 8 April 1944, the republic is renamed as Kabardin ASSR and parts of its territory transferred toGeorgian SSR.Upon the return of the Balkars, the KBASSR is re-instated on 9 January 1957. On 31 January 1991, the republic declared sovereignty as the Kabardino-Balkar SSR and from 10 March 1992 as theKabardino-BalkarianRepublic.
• Northern Ossetian ASSRwas formed on 5 December 1936 upon the disbandment of theNorth Caucasus Krayand its constituentNorth Ossetian Autonomous Oblastwas raised into an ASSR. Declared sovereignty on 26 December 1990 as the North Ossetian SSR.
• Chechen-Ingush ASSRwas formed on 5 December 1936 when theNorth Caucasus Kraiwas disestablished and its constituentChechen-Ingush Autonomous Oblastwas elevated into an ASSR and subordinated to Moscow. Following the en masse deportation of theChechensandIngush,on 7 March 1944 the ChIASSR was disbanded and the Grozny Okrug was temporarily administered byStavropol Krayuntil 22 March when the territory was portioned between North Ossetian and Dagestan ASSRs and the Georgian SSR. The remaining land was merged withStavropol KraysKizlyar district and organised asGrozny Oblast,which existed until 9 January 1957 when the ChIASSR was re-established though only the southern border's original shape was retained. It declared sovereignty on 27 November 1990 as the Chechen-Ingush Republic. On 8 June 1991, the 2nd Chechen National Congress proclaimed a separate Chechen-Republic (Noxchi-Cho) and on 6 September began a coup which overthrew the Soviet local government.De facto,all authority passed to the self-proclaimed government which was renamed as theChechen Republic of Ichkeriain early 1993. In response, the western Ingush districts after a referendum on 28 November 1991 were organised into an Ingush Republic which was officially established on 4 June 1992 by decree of Russian President as theRepublic of Ingushetia.The same decree de jure created a Chechen republic, although it would be established only on 3 June 1994 and carry out partial governance during theFirst Chechen War.TheKhasavyurt Accordwould again suspend the government on 15 November 1996. The presentChechen Republicgovernment was re-established on 15 October 1999.
• Komi ASSRwas formed on 5 December 1936 upon the elevation of theKomi (Zyryan) Autonomous Oblastinto an ASSR. Declared sovereignty on 23 November 1990 as the Komi SSR and from 26 May 1992 as theRepublic of Komi.
• Mari ASSRwas formed on 5 December 1936 upon the elevation of theMari Autonomous Oblastinto an ASSR. Declared Sovereignty on 22 December 1990 as the Mari Soviet Socialist Republic (Mari El).
• Tuva ASSRwas formed on 10 October 1961 when theTuva Autonomous Oblastwas elevatedinto an ASSR. On 12 December 1990, it declared sovereignty as the Soviet Republic of Tyva.
• Gorno-Altai ASSRwas formed on 25 October 1990 whenGorno-Altai Autonomous Oblastdeclared sovereignty. Since 3 July 1991, it has been known as the Gorno-Altai SSR.
• Karachayevo-Cherkessian ASSRwas formed on 17 November 1990 whenKarachay-Cherkess Autonomous Oblastwas elevated into an ASSR and instead ofStavropol Kraisubordinated directly to the RSFSR. It declared sovereignty on 3 July 1991 as the Karachay-Cherkess SSR.

Economy

In the first years of the existence of the RSFSR, the doctrine ofwar communismbecame the starting point of the state's economic activity. In March 1921, at the X Congress of the RCP (B), the tasks of the policy of "war communism" were recognized by the country's leadership as fulfilled, and a new economic policy was introduced at Lenin's suggestion.

After the formation of the Soviet Union, the economy of the RSFSR became an integral part of the economy of the USSR. The economic program of the RSFSR (NEP) was continued in all union republics. TheGosplan(State General Planning Commission) of the RSFSR, which replaced GOELRO, was reorganized into the Gosplan of the USSR. His early task was to develop a unified national economic plan based on the electrification plan and to oversee the overall implementation of this plan.

Unlike the previous Russian constitutions, the 1978 Constitution devoted an entire chapter (Chapter II) to the description of the economic system of the RSFSR, which defined the types of property and indicated the goals of the economic tasks of the state.

As noted by Corresponding Member RAS RAS V. I. Suslov, who took part in large-scale studies of the relationship between the economies of the republics of the USSR and the RSFSR in the late Soviet era: "The degree of inequality of economic exchange was very high, and Russia was always the losing side. The product created by Russia largely supported the consumption of other union republics".

Culture

See also:Culture of Russia

National holidays and symbols

Main articles:Public holidays in RussiaandPublic holidays in the Soviet Union

The public holidays for the Russian SFSR includedDefender of the Fatherland Day(23 February), which honors Russian men, especially those serving in the army;International Women's Day(8 March), which combines the traditions ofMother's DayandValentine's Day;Spring and Labor Day(1 May);Victory Day;and like all other Soviet republics, theGreat October Socialist Revolution(7 November).

Victory Dayis the second most popular holiday in Russia as it commemorates the victory overNazismin theGreat Patriotic War.A hugemilitary parade,hosted by the President of Russia, is annually organised in Moscow onRed Square.Similar parades take place in all major Russian cities and cities with the statusHero Cityor City of Military Glory.

Matryoshka dolltaken apart

During its 76-year existence, the Russian SFSR anthem was the same as the Soviet anthem (unlike other republics):The Internationaleuntil 1944 and then theState Anthem of the USSR.In 1990, the RSFSR adopted its own separate anthem calledPatrioticheskaya Pesnya,which went on to become the anthem of independent Russia since 1991. In 2000, Vladimir Putinre-introduced the Soviet anthem.Themotto"Workers of the world, unite!" was commonly used and shared with other Soviet republics. Thehammer and sickleand the fullSoviet coat of armsare still widely seen in Russian cities as part of architectural decorations. The Sovietred starsare also encountered, often on military equipment and war memorials. TheRed Bannercontinues to be honored, especially theBanner of Victoryof 1945.

TheMatryoshka dollis a recognizable symbol of the Russian SFSR (and the Soviet Union as a whole) and the towers ofMoscow KremlinandSaint Basil's Cathedralin Moscow are Russian SFSR's main architectural icons.Chamomileis thenational flowerwhilebirchis thenational tree.TheRussian bearis an animal symbol and anational personificationof Russia. Though this image has a Western origin, Russians themselves have accepted it. The native Soviet Russian national personification isMother Russia.

Flag history

Main article:Flag of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic

The flag of the Russian SFSR changed numerous times, with the original being a field of red with the Russian name of the republic written on the flag's centre in white. This flag had always been intended to be temporary, as it was changed less than a year after its adoption. The second flag had the letters РСФСР (RSFSR) written in yellow within thecantonand encased within two yellow lines forming aright angle.The next flag was used from 1937, notably duringWorld War II.Interesting because it was used until Stalin's death when a majorvexillologicalreform was undertaken within the Soviet Union. This change incorporated an update for all theflags of the Soviet Republicsas well as for the flag of the Soviet Union itself. The flag of the Russian SFSR was now adefacedversion of theflag of the Soviet Union,with the main difference being a minor repositioning of thehammer and sickleand most notably adding a blue vertical stripe to thehoist.This version of the flag was used from 1954 all the way to 1991, where it was changed due to the ongoingcollapse of the Soviet Union.The flag was changed to a design that resembled the original ensign of theTsardom of Russiaand theRussian Empire,with a notable difference of the flag ratio being 1:2 instead of the original 2:3 ratio. After 1993, when theSoviet form of governmentwas officially dissolved in theRussian Federation,the flag of the Russian Federation was changed to the original civil ensign with its original 2:3 proportions.

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  1917–1918
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  1918–1937
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  1937–1954
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  1954–1991
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  1991

Bibliographies

• Bibliography of the Russian Revolution and Civil War
• Bibliography of Stalinism and the Soviet Union
• Bibliography of the post-Stalinist Soviet Union

External links

• (in Russian)Full Texts and All Laws Amending Constitutions of the Russian SFSR
• Russian Federation; The Whole Republic a Construction Siteby D. S. Polyanski.
• Full 1918 RSFSR Constitution