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?
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:
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]
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?
Ці лічыце вы неабходным захаванне СССР як абноўленай федэрацыі раўнапраўных суверэнных рэспублік, у якой будуць поўнасцю забяспечаны правы і свабоды чалавека любой нацыянальнасці?
Сиз СССРни ҳар қандай миллатнинг инсон ҳуқуқлари ва эркинликлари тўлиқ таъминланадиган тенг ҳуқуқли суверен республикаларнинг янгиланган федерацияси сифатида сақлаб қолишни зарур деб ҳисоблайсизми?
Кез келген ұлттың адам құқықтары мен бостандықтары толық қамтамасыз етілетін тең құқылы егеменді республикалардың жаңарған федерациясы ретінде КСРО-ны сақтау қажет деп санайсыз ба?
თვლით თუ არა საჭიროდ სსრკ-ს შენარჩუნებას, როგორც თანაბარი სუვერენული რესპუბლიკების განახლებულ ფედერაციას, რომელიც სრულად იქნება უზრუნველყოფილი ნებისმიერი ეროვნების ადამიანის უფლებათა და თავისუფლებებით?
İстанилан миллатин инсан ҳüқуқ ва азадлıқларıнı там тамин эдаcак барабарҳüқуқлу суверен республикаларıн йениланмиш федерасиясı кими ССРİ-ни қоруюб сахламағı зарури ҳесаб эдирсинизми?
Ar manote, kad būtina išsaugoti SSRS kaip atnaujintą lygių suverenių respublikų federaciją, kuriai bus visiškai užtikrintos bet kurios tautybės žmogaus teisės ir laisvės?
Cонсидераțи că эсте неcесарă пăстрареа УРСС cа о федераțие реîнноитă де републиcи суверане эгале, cаре ва фи пе деплин асигуратă де дрептуриле șи либертățиле омулуи де ориcе наțионалитате?
Vai uzskatāt par nepieciešamu saglabāt PSRS kā atjaunotu vienlīdzīgu suverēnu republiku federāciju, kurai tiks pilnībā nodrošinātas jebkuras tautības cilvēktiesības un brīvības?
Кандай гана улут болбосун адамдын укуктары жана эркиндиктери толук камсыз кылынуучу тец укуктуу суверендуу республикалардын жацыланган федерациясы катары СССРди сактап калуу зарыл деп эсептейсизби?
Оё шумо зарур мешуморед, ки СССР хамчун федерацияи навшудаи республикахои сохибихтиёри баробархукук нигох дошта шавад, ки он хукуку озодихои инсони хар миллат пурра таъмин карда мешавад?
Անհրաժե՞շտ եք համարում պահպանել ԽՍՀՄ-ը որպես իրավահավասար ինքնիշխան հանրապետությունների նորացված դաշնություն, որը լիովին կապահովվի ցանկացած ազգության մարդու իրավունքներով և ազատություններով?
Адам ҳукукларй wе ислендик миллетиň азатлйкларй билен долй üпжüн эдилжек деňҳукуклй республикаларйň тäзеленен федерасиýасй ҳöкмüнде СССР-и горап сакламагй зерур ҳасаплаýарсйňйзмй?
Kas peate vajalikuks säilitada NSV Liit kui võrdväärsete suveräänsete vabariikide uuendatud föderatsioon, millele on täielikult tagatud mis tahes rahvusest inimõigused ja vabadused?
Overview
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 PresidentMikhail 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:
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.
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:
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.
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".
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]
This section is missing information about much of the data on subdivisions of the SSRs. Please expand the section to include this information. Further details may exist on the talk page.(February 2025)
In republics not participating in the Soviet referendums
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.
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)
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]
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.
Choice
Votes
%
For
25,224,687
81.69
Against
5,655,701
18.31
Total
30,880,388
100.00
Valid votes
30,880,388
98.14
Invalid/blank votes
584,703
1.86
Total votes
31,465,091
100.00
Registered voters/turnout
37,689,767
83.48
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
At the same day a referendum in the GalicianprovincesIvano-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
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.
Choice
Votes
%
For
94.9
Against
5.1
Total
Total votes
9,824,304
–
Registered voters/turnout
10,287,938
95.49
Source: Nohlen et al.
Aftermath
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^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.
^Съездом было принято два постановления о проведении референдумов по вопросу о частной собственности на землю
^ abПостановление 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.
^Закон СССР от 27 декабря 1990 года № 1869-1 «О всенародном голосовании (референдуме СССР)» // Ведомости СНД и ВС СССР. — 1991. — № 1. — ст. 10.
^ abПостановление 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.
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