Independence movements

History of Tannu Tuva's independence and Tuva's sovereignty movement

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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Tannu Tuva's independence and annexation

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).[1] 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.[2]

The 1990-1993 sovereignty movement

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.[3] Following the late-1980s campaign of the Tuvan Popular Front, Tuva's parliament declared the republic's sovereignty on 11 December 1990.[4]

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.[5] By 1992, however, 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, with the sovereignty movement tempered in part by continued financial dependence on Moscow.[6]

· Declaration

Tuva sovereignty declaration, 1990

Tuva's parliament declared sovereignty amid ethnic unrest, later adopting a constitution asserting a right of secession from Russia.

Removal of the secession clause, 2001

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.[7]

Sources for this page

Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.

  1. 1.

    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).

  2. 2.

    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.

  3. 3.

    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.

    • Assessment for Tuvinians in Russia (Minorities at Risk Project, via Refworld) link, summary of 1990 unrest. Source record
  4. 4.

    Claim: Following the late-1980s campaign of the Tuvan Popular Front, Tuva's parliament declared the republic's sovereignty on 11 December 1990.

    • Tuva: Rejoining the Fold (Jamestown Foundation) link, Sovereignty declaration section. Source record
  5. 5.

    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.

  6. 6.

    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.

    • Tuva: Rejoining the Fold (Jamestown Foundation) link, Decline of nationalism section. Source record
  7. 7.

    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.

Source note

Show in the notes list

Printed from https://independenceatlas.com/movements/tuva/history · last substantive update 24 September 2026.