The history of the Supreme Council can be divided into two periods: Soviet and post-Soviet. From its establishment in 1937 until the collapse of the USSR, the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR was the parliament of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. It was created in accordance with the norms of the "Stalinist constitution". In the post-Soviet era, this body became the parliament of the new country. Due to a conflict with the executive branch, it was dissolved and replaced by the modern State Duma.
Soviet period
Initially, the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR had legislative functions, elected the ministers of the Union Republic, had the right to organize a referendum, interpreted laws, and appointed judges. He approved state awards, formed the budget, and supervised the implementation of the constitution.
Power began to change in the turbulent era of perestroika. The old one-party political system was dismantled. Under the new conditions, Parliament could not remain the same. By the way, in 1992 it was the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR that approved the decision to rename the RSFSR into the RussianFederation. At the same time, the name of the parliament itself also changed. His last elections were held in 1990. Then 252 people were elected to the deputies.
Ruslan Khasbulatov: Yeltsin's supporter turned opponent
In July 1991, Ruslan Imranovich Khasbulatov became Chairman of the Supreme Council. He took an active part in the main events of the transitional period of national history. At first he supported Boris Yeltsin. In August, he opposed the GKChP and condemned the putschists. Then it was thanks to Khasbulatov's position that the parliament ratified the agreement signed in Belovezhskaya Pushcha. This document finally formalized the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Khasbulatov also decided to abolish many institutions of the former state. Later, he changed his mind and admitted in public speeches or interviews that the collapse of the USSR was a political mistake.
The struggle between the two branches of government
What was the conflict between the government and parliament that ended with the events of October 1993? Soon after the creation of the new state, the chairman of the Supreme Council in 1991-1993. Ruslan Imranovich Khasbulatov consistently criticized the policies of Boris Yeltsin and his ministers. For example, he publicly condemned "shock therapy" and called the Yeltsin government incompetent.
Gradually, two opposing camps formed in the country: in one there were supporters of Yeltsin, and in the other - those who supported the parliament. On the side of Khasbulatov also spokethe only vice-president of Russia in history, Alexander Rutskoi. The two "camps" could not share powers, and their views on the future of the country, the correctness of economic reforms, and relations with the CIS states did not coincide.
If the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR had clear powers, and its position in the system of government institutions did not change for many years, then in the new Russia the parliament found itself in an ambiguous position. The post-Soviet state could take the form of a presidential or parliamentary republic (or perhaps a mixed republic). These contours have not been defined. It was possible to determine them either legally or as a result of armed struggle.
Failed referendum and defense of the White House
An attempt to overcome the constitutional crisis in a legitimate way failed. We are talking about the famous referendum on April 25, 1993. It received the informal name "yes-yes-no-yes" (as Yeltsin's supporters called for voting). In the referendum, the population, in particular, voted for holding early elections of people's deputies, although further events did not allow these elections to be held.
By the fall of 1993, the conflict entered its final stage, even though the Orthodox Church, represented by the patriarch, tried to reconcile the opponents. The President signed a decree dissolving Parliament. The deputies refused to comply with it and called on their supporters to defend the White House, where they met, with weapons in their hands. Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR (andlater RF) Khasbulatov was supported by the Constitutional Court, which recognized Yeltsin's actions as unconstitutional. Parliament, in turn, decided to deprive Yeltsin of his post and transfer his powers to Rutskoi. Thus, the conflict gradually became more and more radical, in which the executive power and the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR were drawn into. 1991 and 1993 destroyed the old system.
October events
On the night of October 3-4, supporters of the Supreme Council seized the Moscow mayor's office and stormed Ostankino, which failed. The president declared a state of emergency in the capital, and his opponents were surrounded in the White House and defeated. Several hundred people were killed in skirmishes on both sides.
Khasbulatov and other leaders of the Supreme Council were arrested. In 1994 they were amnestied. Parliament itself was abolished. His place was taken by the State Duma, whose powers were determined by the constitution adopted by popular vote in December 1993.
