The 1990 declaration and 1992 constitution
On 27 September 1990, the Yakut-Sakha authorities adopted a Declaration of State Sovereignty, and the republic's name was changed to the Sakha Republic (Yakutia).[1] On 4 April 1992, an extraordinary session of the Supreme Council adopted a new Constitution declaring the republic a sovereign state within the Russian Federation.[2]
· Declaration
Sakha Declaration of State Sovereignty, 1990
The Yakut ASSR declared sovereignty and renamed itself the Sakha Republic.
The 1992 Federation Treaty and property agreement
In March 1992, Sakha was among the signatories of the Russian Federation Treaty, under which autonomous regions gained increased rights, including greater control over mineral resources.[3] Sakha also concluded a property-division agreement with the Russian Federation providing that roughly 95% of state-owned property in the republic's territory, including the diamond, gold and coal industries and power generation, would be controlled by the Sakha government.[4]
· Constitutional change
Sakha Constitution and Federation Treaty, 1992
Sakha adopted a sovereignty-declaring constitution and negotiated broad control over its natural resource wealth, including diamonds, gold and coal.
The 2009 rescission and 2013 Alrosa IPO
In June 2009, the Russian Constitutional Court ordered eleven ethnic republics, including Sakha, to remove references to "sovereignty" from their constitutions; Sakha passed an amendment stating that federal subjects are not eligible to have sovereignty since the federation as a whole holds it.[5]
On 28 October 2013, Alrosa, the diamond company originally controlled by the Sakha government, carried out an initial public offering in which the Russian Federation and the Republic of Sakha each sold shares, leaving the Federation with about 43.9% and Sakha with about 25.0% of the company's equity.[6]
· Other
Alrosa initial public offering, 2013
The diamond company originally controlled by the Sakha government went public, diluting Sakha's ownership stake below a quarter.
Sources for this page
Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.
-
1.
Claim: On 27 September 1990, the Yakut-Sakha authorities adopted a Declaration of State Sovereignty, and the republic's name was changed to the Sakha Republic (Yakutia).
- Presidential Library of Russia, The Sakha (Yakutia) Republic Constitution adopted (Presidential Library (prlib.ru)) link, Declaration section. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
-
2.
Claim: On 4 April 1992, an extraordinary session of the Supreme Council of the Sakha Republic adopted a new Constitution declaring the republic a sovereign state within the Russian Federation.
- Presidential Library of Russia, The Sakha (Yakutia) Republic Constitution adopted (Presidential Library (prlib.ru)) link, Constitution section. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
-
3.
Claim: In March 1992, Sakha was among the signatories of the Russian Federation Treaty, under which autonomous regions gained increased rights, including greater control over mineral resources.
- Yakutia: Autonomy and Diamonds (Jamestown Foundation) link, Federation Treaty section. Source record
-
4.
Claim: Sakha also concluded a property-division agreement with the Russian Federation providing that roughly 95% of state-owned property in the republic's territory, including the diamond, gold and coal industries and power generation, would be controlled by the Sakha government.
- Yakutia: Autonomy and Diamonds (Jamestown Foundation) link, Property-division section. Source record
-
5.
Claim: In June 2009, the Russian Constitutional Court ordered eleven ethnic republics, including Sakha, to remove references to "sovereignty" from their constitutions; Sakha passed an amendment stating that federal subjects are not eligible to have sovereignty since the federation as a whole holds it.
- Russian Region Removes 'Sovereignty' From Constitution (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 2009) link, article text. Source record
-
6.
Claim: On 28 October 2013, Alrosa, the diamond company originally controlled by the Sakha government under the 1992 property agreement, carried out an initial public offering in which the Russian Federation and the Republic of Sakha each sold shares, leaving the Federation with about 43.9% and Sakha with about 25.0% of the company's equity.
- Alrosa (Wikipedia) link, Shareholding structure section. Source record
Printed from https://independenceatlas.com/movements/sakha/history · last substantive update 24 September 2026.