As an aftermath of the August 1991 failed coup d'état in Moscow Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR proclaimed the Declaration of Sovereignty a constitutional law on August 25 1991, making the republic de facto independent from the Soviet Union. The official name of the state was changed to the Republic of Belarus on September 19 1991 and on December 8 1991 it became one of the parties to sign the Belovezha Accords that effectively disestablished the USSR. On March 15 1994 a new constitution, which introduced the office of President of Belarus, was adopted.