<span class="mw-page-title-main">1991 in the Soviet Union and Russia</span>

1991 in the Soviet Union and Russia

<p>The following lists events that happened during <b><a href="/en/1991" title="1991" class="wl">1991</a> in the <a href="/en/Soviet_Union" title="Soviet Union" class="wl">Soviet Union</a> and <a href="/en/Russia" title="Russia" class="wl">Russia</a></b>.</p>

<div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none" about="#mwt1">List of events </div><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374" typeof="mw:Extension/templatestyles">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ul{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist .mw-empty-li{display:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist dt::after{content:": "}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li::after{content:" · ";font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li:last-child::after{content:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li li:first-child::before{content:" (";font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li li:last-child::after{content:")";font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol{counter-reset:listitem}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol>li{counter-increment:listitem}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol>li::before{content:" "counter(listitem)"\a0 "}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd ol>li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt ol>li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li ol>li:first-child::before{content:" ("counter(listitem)"\a0 "}</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1066479718" typeof="mw:Extension/templatestyles">.mw-parser-output .infobox-subbox{padding:0;border:none;margin:-3px;width:auto;min-width:100%;font-size:100%;clear:none;float:none;background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .infobox-3cols-child{margin:auto}.mw-parser-output .infobox .navbar{font-size:100%}body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-header,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-subheader,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-above,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-title,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-image,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data,body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .infobox-below{text-align:center}</style><div class='mobile-collapse'><header class="mobile-collapse-header mobile-collapse-btn"><b>Quick facts: Decades , See also ...</b> <span class='arrow'>▼</span></header> <table class="infobox vevent mobile-collapse-element" style="width:270px; font-size:100%;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image"><table style="width:100%;">
<tbody><tr><td style="text-align:left; font-size:88%;  background:#f3f3f3" class="notheme"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1126788409" typeof="mw:Extension/templatestyles">.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0}</style><div class="plainlist ">
<p><span style="font-size:120%"><span>←</span></span></p>
<ul><li><a href="/en/1990_in_the_Soviet_Union" title="1990 in the Soviet Union" class="wl">1990</a></li>
<li><a href="/en/AD_1989" title="AD 1989" class="mw-redirect wl">1989</a></li>
<li><a href="/en/1988_in_the_Soviet_Union" title="1988 in the Soviet Union" class="wl">1988</a></li>

</ul>
</div>
</td><td style="vertical-align:top; width:50%;"><figure class="mw-image-border mw-halign-right wiki-thumb"><a href="/en/File:Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svg" class="mw-file-description image media-thumb" data-hash="File:Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svg"><img loading="lazy" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svg/90px-Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svg.png" decoding="async" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="600" data-file-type="drawing" height="45" width="90" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svg/135px-Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svg/180px-Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svg.png 2x" alt="Flag_of_the_Soviet_Union.svg"></a><figcaption></figcaption></figure></td>
<td class="summary" style="text-align:center; width:50%; font-size:125%; font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-size:110%"><a href="/en/AD_1991" title="AD 1991" class="mw-redirect wl">1991</a></span><br> in<br> <span class="adr"><span class="country-name location"><a href="/en/Soviet_Union" title="Soviet Union" class="wl">the Soviet Union</a></span></span></td>
<td style="text-align:right; font-size:88%; background:#f3f3f3" class="notheme">
<div class="plainlist ">
<p><span style="font-size:120%"><span>→</span></span></p>
<ul><li><a href="/en/1992_in_the_Soviet_Union" title="1992 in the Soviet Union" class="mw-redirect wl">1992</a></li>
<li><a href="/en/1993_in_the_Soviet_Union" title="1993 in the Soviet Union" class="mw-redirect wl">1993</a></li>
<li><a href="/en/1994_in_the_Soviet_Union" title="1994 in the Soviet Union" class="mw-redirect wl">1994</a></li>

</ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="font-size:88%;">Decades:</th><td class="infobox-data hlist" style="font-size:88%; text-align:center;">
<ul><li><a href="/en/Category:1970s_in_the_Soviet_Union" title="Category:1970s in the Soviet Union" class="wl">1970s</a></li>
<li><a href="/en/Category:1980s_in_the_Soviet_Union" title="Category:1980s in the Soviet Union" class="wl">1980s</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/en/Category:1990s_in_the_Soviet_Union" title="Category:1990s in the Soviet Union" class="wl">1990s</a></b></li>

</ul>
</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="font-size:88%;">See also:</th><td class="infobox-data hlist" style="font-size:88%; text-align:center;"><a href="/en/1991" title="1991" class="wl">Other events of 1991</a><br><a href="/en/History_of_the_Soviet_Union" title="History of the Soviet Union" class="wl">History of the Soviet Union</a> <span>&nbsp;</span><span>•</span><span> </span> <a href="/en/List_of_years_in_the_Soviet_Union" title="List of years in the Soviet Union" class="wl">Years</a></td></tr></tbody></table> <footer class='mobile-collapse-footer mobile-collapse-btn'><b>Close</b> <span class='arrow'>▲</span></footer></div>
<div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none" about="#mwt10">List of events </div><div class='mobile-collapse'><header class="mobile-collapse-header mobile-collapse-btn"><b>Quick facts: Decades , See also ...</b> <span class='arrow'>▼</span></header> <table class="infobox vevent mobile-collapse-element" style="width:270px; font-size:100%;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-image"><table style="width:100%;">
<tbody><tr><td style="text-align:left; font-size:88%;  background:#f3f3f3" class="notheme"><div class="plainlist ">
<p><span style="font-size:120%"><span>←</span></span></p>
<ul><li><a href="/en/1990_in_Russia" title="1990 in Russia" class="mw-redirect wl">1990</a></li>
<li><a href="/en/AD_1989" title="AD 1989" class="mw-redirect wl">1989</a></li>
<li><a href="/en/1988_in_Russia" title="1988 in Russia" class="mw-redirect wl">1988</a></li>

</ul>
</div>
</td><td style="vertical-align:top; width:50%;"><figure class="mw-image-border mw-halign-right wiki-thumb"><a href="/en/File:Flag_of_Russia_(1991–1993).svg" class="mw-file-description image media-thumb" data-hash="File:Flag_of_Russia_(1991–1993).svg"><img loading="lazy" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Flag_of_Russia_%281991%E2%80%931993%29.svg/80px-Flag_of_Russia_%281991%E2%80%931993%29.svg.png" decoding="async" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="600" data-file-type="drawing" height="40" width="80" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Flag_of_Russia_%281991%E2%80%931993%29.svg/120px-Flag_of_Russia_%281991%E2%80%931993%29.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Flag_of_Russia_%281991%E2%80%931993%29.svg/160px-Flag_of_Russia_%281991%E2%80%931993%29.svg.png 2x" alt="Flag_of_Russia_%281991%E2%80%931993%29.svg"></a><figcaption></figcaption></figure></td>
<td class="summary" style="text-align:center; width:50%; font-size:125%; font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-size:110%"><a href="/en/AD_1991" title="AD 1991" class="mw-redirect wl">1991</a></span><br> in<br> <span class="adr"><span class="country-name location"><a href="/en/Russia" title="Russia" class="wl">Russia</a></span></span></td>
<td style="text-align:right; font-size:88%; background:#f3f3f3" class="notheme">
<div class="plainlist ">
<p><span style="font-size:120%"><span>→</span></span></p>
<ul><li><a href="/en/1992_in_Russia" title="1992 in Russia" class="wl">1992</a></li>
<li><a href="/en/1993_in_Russia" title="1993 in Russia" class="wl">1993</a></li>
<li><a href="/en/1994_in_Russia" title="1994 in Russia" class="wl">1994</a></li>

</ul>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="font-size:88%;">Decades:</th><td class="infobox-data hlist" style="font-size:88%; text-align:center;">
<ul><li><a href="/en/Category:1970s_in_Russia" title="Category:1970s in Russia" class="wl">1970s</a></li>
<li><a href="/en/Category:1980s_in_Russia" title="Category:1980s in Russia" class="wl">1980s</a></li>
<li><b><a href="/en/Category:1990s_in_Russia" title="Category:1990s in Russia" class="wl">1990s</a></b></li>
<li><a href="/en/Category:2000s_in_Russia" title="Category:2000s in Russia" class="wl">2000s</a></li>
<li><a href="/en/Category:2010s_in_Russia" title="Category:2010s in Russia" class="wl">2010s</a></li></ul>
</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="font-size:88%;">See also:</th><td class="infobox-data hlist" style="font-size:88%; text-align:center;"><a href="/en/1991" title="1991" class="wl">Other events of 1991</a><br><a href="/en/History_of_Russia" title="History of Russia" class="wl">History of Russia</a> <span>&nbsp;</span><span>•</span><span> </span> <a href="/en/Timeline_of_Russian_history" title="Timeline of Russian history" class="wl">Timeline</a> <span>&nbsp;</span><span>•</span><span> </span> <a href="/en/List_of_years_in_Russia" title="List of years in Russia" class="wl">Years</a></td></tr></tbody></table> <footer class='mobile-collapse-footer mobile-collapse-btn'><b>Close</b> <span class='arrow'>▲</span></footer></div><span>
</span>
<p>The <a href="/en/Soviet_Union" title="Soviet Union" class="wl">Soviet Union</a> had a <a href="/en/Transitional_government" title="Transitional government" class="mw-redirect wl">transitional government</a> in 1991, during the <a href="/en/Fall_of_communism" title="Fall of communism" class="mw-redirect wl">fall of communism</a>. Every <a href="/en/Republics_of_the_Soviet_Union" title="Republics of the Soviet Union" class="wl">republic in the union</a> had growing <a href="/en/Nationalism" title="Nationalism" class="wl">nationalism</a> until <a href="/en/Christmas" title="Christmas" class="wl">Christmas</a> of 1991 when <a href="/en/Mikhail_Gorbachev" title="Mikhail Gorbachev" class="wl">Mikhail Gorbachev</a>, the <a href="/en/General_Secretary_of_the_Communist_Party_of_the_Soviet_Union" title="General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union" class="wl">General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union</a> and <a href="/en/President_of_the_Soviet_Union" title="President of the Soviet Union" class="wl">President of the Soviet Union</a>, abandoned the Union at the time of <a href="/en/Dissolution_of_the_Soviet_Union" title="Dissolution of the Soviet Union" class="wl">its dissolution</a>. The dissolution created huge changes in politics and territorial claims. <a href="/en/NATO" title="NATO" class="wl">NATO</a> scaled back its presence following the dissolution.</p>



The following lists events that happened during 1991 in the Soviet Union and Russia. The Soviet Union had a transitional government in 1991, during the fall of communism. Every republic in the union had growing nationalism until Christmas of 1991 when Mikhail Gorbachev, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and President of the Soviet Union, abandoned the Union at the time of its dissolution. The dissolution created huge changes in politics and territorial claims. NATO scaled back its presence following the dissolution. 