1993 Russian constitutional crisis

The **Russian constitutional crisis of 1993** (Russian: Конституционный кризис 1993 года) was a political confrontation in Moscow of the newly formed nation of Russia in 1993, just over a year after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. It was between the government of Russia, which included President Boris Yeltsin and anti-Yeltsin oppositions, mostly the Supreme Soviet or the Russian parliamentary forces.

## Origins

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia was governed by the Supreme Soviet, the seat of power during the Soviet era and President Boris Yeltsin. Yeltsin, who gained popularity after suppressing the August Coup, launched a new economic reform plan, privatizing state-owned factories and selling off large amounts of state-owned property to the private sector. This led to a rapid economic downturn. The Supreme Soviet opposed Yeltsin's policies, putting the brakes on them, leading to a confrontation between the Yeltsin-led executive branch and the legislature, led by the former Soviet establishment. This, coupled with the economic downturn, provided political leverage for opponents dissatisfied with Yeltsin's reforms. In particular, in April 1993, the former Communist Party and far-left parties secured a majority in the Duma, placing Yeltsin at a political disadvantage. The Supreme Soviet, by putting the brakes on Yeltsin's reforms, partially restricted his power, further exacerbating the conflict between the presidentially led executive branch and the Supreme Soviet-led legislature.

## Armed conflict

On 21 September 1993, the Supreme Soviet was dissolved. In response, the Supreme Soviet convened the Congress of People's Deputies on 23 September, impeached the president and appointed Vice President Alexander Rutskoy as president. On 3 October, the Supreme Soviet and pro-Soviet demonstrators entered the Ostankino Tower, occupying it and inciting resistance against Yeltsin. As some of the Internal Troops guarding downtown Moscow joined the Soviets and the pro-parliamentary demonstrations swelled, Yeltsin could no longer delay military intervention. He sent troops to Moscow on 4 October, tank units surrounded the Kremlin Palace, where the Soviet demonstrators were, and at 8:00 a.m., shelled the Duma and sent in troops to occupy it. The Supreme Soviet and its leaders were arrested, and the Duma was forcibly dissolved.

## Aftermath

After the violent crackdown on the Russian parliament, Yeltsin banned the Communist Party and all far-left movements on 5 October. Newspapers supporting the parliament were banned and the following day, the Russian Soviet regime was dissolved. This incident virtually destroyed the old Communist Party, but Yeltsin's popularity plummeted, suffering a major political blow.

## Related pages

- 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt

## Infobox (military conflict)

- **conflict**: 1993 Russian constitutional crisis
- **partof**: the List of conflicts in territory of the former Soviet Union, conflicts in the former Soviet Union
- **image**: ベールイドーム.jpg
- **image size**: 300px
- **caption**: White House (Moscow), The White House in October 1993, soon after the assault of government troops supported by tanks
- **date**: 21 September – 4 October 1993
()
- **place**: Moscow, Russia
- **result**: **Presidential victory:**
* Presidential rule by decree imposed
* Constitution of Russia, New constitution 1993 Russian constitutional referendum, adopted
* Supreme Soviet of Russia, Supreme Soviet, Congress of People's Deputies of Russia, Congress of People's Deputies, regional and local Soviet (council), Soviets disbanded
* Creation of the Federal Assembly of Russia, Federal Assembly
* 1993 Russian legislative election, New parliamentary election held
* End of the Soviet republic, Soviet system of government in Russia
- **combatant1**: *  **President of Russia, Presidential forces**:
**  Federal Protective Service (Russia), Main Administration of Protection
**  Ministry of Internal Affairs (Russia), Ministry of the Interior
*  Ministry of Defence (Russia), Ministry of Defence
**  4th Guards Tank Division, Kantemir Division
**  2nd Guards Motor Rifle Division, Taman Division

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*  Pro-Yeltsin demonstrators and organizations
* Federalists and anti-communists
- **combatant2**: **Parliamentary forces**:
*  Congress of People's Deputies of Russia, Congress of People's Deputies
*  Supreme Soviet of Russia, Supreme Soviet
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**Anti-Yeltsin opposition**:
*  National Salvation Front (Russia), National Salvation Front
*  Russian National Unity
*  Labour Russia
*
Other opposition forces
- **commander1**: **Boris Yeltsin**
 Viktor Chernomyrdin
 Yegor Gaidar
 Pavel Grachev
 Viktor Yerin
 Nikolai Golushko
 Anatoly Kulikov
 Alexander Korzhakov
 Dmitri Volkogonov
- **commander2**:
 **Ruslan Khasbulatov**
 Vladislav Achalov
 Andrey Dunayev
 Viktor Barannikov
 Sergey Baburin
 Albert Makashov
 Alexander Barkashov
 Viktor Anpilov
- **polstrength1**: Liberalism in Russia, Liberals  Federalism, Federalists Anti-communists Commonwealth of Independent States, CIS
- **polstrength2**: Communism in Russia, Communists Russian nationalism, Nationalists Monarchism in Russia, Monarchists Russian National Unity
 National Bolshevik Party, National-bolsheviks
- **casualties3**: 147 killed, 437 wounded (official assessment of the Prosecutor-General of Russia)
- **notes**: Became Acting President of Russia after the Impeachment in Russia, impeachment of Yeltsin, in accordance with the Constitution.