Stalin dies, uncertainty spreads across the USSRMar 5, 1953Labels: Joseph Stalin, USSR, CaucasusBritannicaStalin Death
Khrushchev’s “Secret Speech” accelerates de-StalinizationFeb 25, 1956Labels: Nikita Khrushchev, Secret Speech, De-StalinizationBritannicaSecret Speech
Tbilisi demonstrations end in deadly Soviet crackdownMar 4, 1956Labels: Tbilisi protests, Georgian demonstrators, Soviet forces1956 TbilisiSecret Speech
Brezhnev Constitution sets new political frameworkOct 7, 1977Labels: Brezhnev Constitution, USSR, Soviet lawUSSR Const
Mass rally forces retreat on Georgian language statusApr 14, 1978Labels: Tbilisi rally, Eduard Shevardnadze, Georgian language1978 GeorgiaCivil Georgia
Karabakh movement begins with Stepanakert demonstrationFeb 13, 1988Labels: Karabakh movement, Stepanakert demonstration, Nagorno-KarabakhKarabakh MoveNagorno Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh Soviet votes to request transfer to ArmeniaFeb 20, 1988Labels: Nagorno-Karabakh Soviet, Azerbaijan SSR, Armenian SSRKarabakh MoveNagorno Karabakh
Askeran clash signals escalation of Armenian–Azerbaijani violenceFeb 22, 1988Labels: Askeran clash, Nagorno-Karabakh, Intercommunal violenceAskeran ClashNagorno Karabakh
Sumgait pogrom drives Armenians to flee AzerbaijanFeb 27, 1988Labels: Sumgait pogrom, Armenians in, Anti-Armenian violenceSumgaitKarabakh Move
Spitak earthquake shocks Armenia and disrupts political lifeDec 7, 1988Labels: Spitak earthquake, Armenia, Humanitarian aidSpitak QuakeEarth Magazine
Soviet troops kill demonstrators in Tbilisi (April 9 tragedy)Apr 9, 1989Labels: Tbilisi April, Soviet troops, Georgian independenceApril 9Civil Georgia
Ethnic violence erupts in Sukhumi amid Abkhaz–Georgian tensionsJul 1, 1989Labels: Sukhumi riots, Abkhazia, Georgian SSRSukhumi RiotsApril 9
Baku pogrom targets Armenians as Soviet authority weakensJan 12, 1990Labels: Baku pogrom, Armenians in, AzerbaijanBaku PogromBlack January
Soviet army storms Baku in “Black January” crackdownJan 19, 1990Labels: Black January, Soviet army, BakuBlack JanuaryBaku Pogrom
Georgia declares restoration of independenceApr 9, 1991Labels: Georgia independence, Supreme Council, RestorationCivil GeorgiaIndependence Day
Nagorno-Karabakh holds independence referendum amid USSR breakupDec 10, 1991Labels: Nagorno-Karabakh referendum, Republic of, Self-determinationNK ReferendumKarabakh Move