30: Constitutional Crisis

30 Years Ago today (September 21, 1993) the Russian Constitutional Crisis occurred.

It was a Self-Imposed Coup by Russian President Boris Yeltsin against the Russian Parliament (the Congress of People's Deputies and the Supreme Soviet) which was still governing under the 1978 Soviet Constitution despite the Soviet Union collapsing on December 26, 1991.

An April 1993 National Referendum found widespread public support for Yeltsin’s Reforms and deciding he had the support of the Russian People Yeltsin dissolved the Russian Parliament – using Degree Number 1400 - when they refused to support his changes.

The Parliament then tried to Impeach Yeltsin. Yeltsin responded by cutting off the electricity, phone service and hot water to the Parliament Building.

On September 28^th the first bloody clashes between the two groups occurred as barricades were placed throughout Moscow. The Russian Parliament barricaded themselves into the Russian White House.

Pro-Parliament Groups stormed the Moscow Mayor’s Office and tried to storm the National Television Center at Ostankino as well as the Kremlin. 46 people (including 2 French, 1 British and 1 American Journalist) were killed at the Battle around Ostankino.

On October 4^th the Russian Military – supporting Yeltsin – started bombing and then stormed the Russian White House (the seat of both the Russian Government and the Russian Prime Minister) and everyone was arrested. Parliament’s Opposition ended and the fighting stopped.

158 People were killed and 437 were Wounded.

A General Amnesty was declared on everyone involved in the Constitutional Crisis in February 1994.

During the Constitutional Crisis Yeltsin started the tradition of governing by Presidential Decree which was made official in the new 1993 Constitution.

In December 1993 a Nationwide Referendum was held throughout Russia that approved a new Constitution by 58% - which remains in force today.

The 1993 Constitution also created a new Parliament (the Lower House - State Duma – and the Upper House Federation Council.)

The 1993 Constitutional Crisis is seen as the official end of the Soviet System of Government in Russia.

It is also seen as the beginning of Putin’s Dictatorship (even though he had nothing to do with the 1993 Events the Presidential Decrees created after them allowed Putin to take full-control over every aspect of the Russian People’s lives which he began in 2000 and continues today.)