Тыва Республика
Covers Tuva's international status as the Tuvan People's Republic (1921-1944), its 1944 incorporation into the Soviet Union, and its 1990-2001 post-Soviet sovereignty movement and its constitutional and referendum conclusion. It does not attempt a full account of the May 1990 inter-ethnic violence, nor a general political or cultural history of Tuva.
The Tuvan People's Republic (Tannu Tuva) proclaimed independence in 1921 and was recognised only by the Soviet Union and Mongolia during its existence.[1] On 11 October 1944, at the Small People's Khural's own request, it was incorporated into the Soviet Union as an autonomous oblast of the RSFSR, later becoming an autonomous republic in 1961.[2] Amid the loosening of Soviet central authority, the Tuva ASSR experienced inter-ethnic unrest in May 1990 and its parliament declared sovereignty on 11 December 1990, followed by a 1993 constitution asserting a right to secede from Russia by referendum.[3][4][5] This sovereigntist current proved short-lived, receding by 1992 with the election of a pro-Yeltsin president, and the secession clause was formally removed by a new constitution adopted by referendum on 6 May 2001.[6][7]
Status verified as of
Tuva is an ordinary republic of the Russian Federation. Its brief period of internationally unrecognised independence (1921-1944) and its 1990s sovereignty movement, including a constitutional secession clause, are both historically concluded; the secession clause was removed by a new constitution adopted by referendum in May 2001.[2][7]
History
From the 1921 proclamation of Tannu Tuva through its 1944 annexation, to the 1990-1993 sovereignty movement and the 2001 removal of its constitutional secession clause.
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· International resolution
The formerly independent Tannu Tuva was incorporated into the Soviet Union, ending 23 years of internationally unrecognised statehood.
Significance here: Ended Tuva's period as a nominally independent state and established the constitutional basis for its subsequent status within Russia.
· Declaration
Tuva's parliament declared sovereignty amid ethnic unrest, later adopting a constitution asserting a right of secession from Russia.
Significance here: The peak of Tuva's post-Soviet sovereignty movement, whose momentum receded within two years.
· Referendum or popular consultation
A new constitution, adopted by referendum, removed Tuva's 1993 secession clause amid federal recentralisation.
Significance here: Formally ended Tuva's constitutional claim to a right of secession, aligning it with Russian federal centralisation policy.
Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.
Claim: In 1921, independence was proclaimed for the Tuvan People's Republic (Tannu Tuva); during its existence it was formally recognised only by the Soviet Union (1924) and Mongolia (1926).
Claim: On 11 October 1944, at the request of Tuva's Small People's Khural, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR incorporated Tuva into the Soviet Union as the Tuvan Autonomous Oblast of the RSFSR; the Khural formalised the annexation at its final session on 1 November 1944. Tuva's status was raised to that of an autonomous republic in 1961.
Claim: In May 1990, the Tuva ASSR experienced civil strife between Tuvan and Russian residents, in which Tuvan residents attacked Russian neighbourhoods, prompting around 3,000 Russians to leave the republic.
Claim: Following the late-1980s campaign of the Tuvan Popular Front, Tuva's parliament declared the republic's sovereignty on 11 December 1990.
Claim: In 1993, Tuva's parliament adopted a new Constitution, Article 1 of which stated that the Republic of Tuva "has the right ... to secede from the Russian Federation by republic-wide referendum"; the republic's official name was also changed from Tuva to Tyva.
Claim: By 1992, Tuvan nationalist sentiment had substantially receded, evidenced by the election as republic president of Sherig-ool Oorzhak, a strong supporter of Russian President Boris Yeltsin; the sovereignty movement was tempered in part by the republic's continued financial dependence on Moscow.
Claim: Amid a broader Russian federal policy of centralisation, Tuva's Supreme Khural revised the republic's Constitution, and a new constitution excluding the 1993 sovereignty and secession provisions was adopted by referendum on 6 May 2001.