Nationalist Movements and Independence Declarations (1988–1991)

1. Lithuania’s Sąjūdis begins mass mobilization

   Jun 1, 1988Labels: S j, Lithuania

   • Lith MFA

2. Estonia issues sovereignty declaration

   Nov 16, 1988Labels: Estonian SSR, Singing Revolution

   • Estonian Decl
   • Washington Post

3. Lithuania restores independent statehood

   Mar 11, 1990Labels: Act of, Lithuania

   • Lith Act
   • Lith MFA

4. Latvia adopts restoration of independence declaration

   May 4, 1990Labels: Latvia, Supreme Soviet

   • Latvia Decl
   • May 4 Day

5. Russia proclaims RSFSR state sovereignty

   Jun 12, 1990Labels: RSFSR, Russian SFSR

   • RSFSR Decl
   • MSU Archive

6. Belarus declares state sovereignty

   Jul 27, 1990Labels: Byelorussian SSR, Belarus

   • ICL Text
   • Belarus Decl

7. Armenia adopts declaration of state sovereignty

   Aug 23, 1990Labels: Armenia, Supreme Council

   • Armenia Gov
   • Washington Post

8. Estonia holds independence restoration referendum

   Mar 3, 1991Labels: Estonia, referendum

   • Estonia Ref
   • Estonia Rest

9. Georgia declares independence from the USSR

   Apr 9, 1991Labels: Georgia, Supreme Council

   • UPI
   • Georgia Indep

10. Estonia restores full independence during coup

    Aug 20, 1991Labels: Estonia, August 1991

    • Estonia Rest

11. Latvia restores de facto independence

    Aug 21, 1991Labels: Latvia, constitutional law

    • Latvia May4
    • Latvia Rest

12. Ukraine declares independence

    Aug 24, 1991Labels: Ukraine, Verkhovna Rada

    • Ukraine Ref
    • Britannica

13. Moldova declares independence

    Aug 27, 1991Labels: Moldova, parliament

    • Moldova Decl

14. Kyrgyzstan declares independence

    Aug 31, 1991Labels: Kyrgyzstan, Supreme Council

    • Kyrgyz Indep

15. Azerbaijan adopts constitutional act on independence

    Oct 18, 1991Labels: Azerbaijan, Constitutional Act

    • Azerbaijan Day

16. Ukraine referendum confirms independence

    Dec 1, 1991Labels: Ukraine, referendum

    • Ukraine Ref
    • Britannica

17. Belovezha Accords declare the USSR ended

    Dec 8, 1991Labels: Belovezha Accords, Russia-Ukraine-Belarus

    • Belovezha

18. Kazakhstan passes constitutional law on independence

    Dec 16, 1991Labels: Kazakhstan, constitutional law

    • Kaz Law
    • Kaz Indep

19. Alma-Ata Protocol expands CIS and confirms breakup

    Dec 21, 1991Labels: Alma-Ata Protocol, CIS

    • Belovezha

20. USSR formally dissolves via Supreme Soviet vote

    Dec 26, 1991Labels: Supreme Soviet, USSR

    • Belovezha