Russia Commemorates Constitution Day

 

 

December 12

Constitution Day is a public holiday in Russia.

Russia’s Constitution Day is a celebration of the adoption of the Constitution of the Russian Federation by referendum on December 12, 1993, after the historical collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990.

 

 

History of Constitution Day in Russia

Russians approved by referendum the new Constitution of the Russian Federation on December 12, 1993. The first ever Russian constitution was adopted in 1918 after the Monarchy was overthrown by the new Soviet regime, forming the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.

 

The constitution concentrated all power in the All-Russian Congress of Soviets. A second constitution was adopted in 1924 for the formation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, or USSR. Under this constitution, the power was concentrated in the Congress of the Soviets of the USSR. In 1936, a new constitution was put in place by Joseph Stalin to establish priority of federal legislation over republican.

 

 

BORIS YELTSIN : http://en.academic.ru/dic.nsf/enwiki/2728

Later in 1977, Brezhnev adopted another constitution that would give him more power as the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Finally, by 1993, and after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990, President Boris Yeltsin called to work the Constitutional Conference to create a new constitution. The referendum was held on December 12, 1993, simultaneous with the election of the government. The 1993 constitution brought stability to the new Russian Federation, moving away from previous constitutions not providing any economic system based on state ownership.

 

 

Russia’s Constitution Day Traditions, Customs and Activities

Even though most Russians don’t give much importance to the date, Constitution Day is celebrated with speeches from the Kremlin Palace by the president, official ceremonies countrywide, and a fireworks display in St. Petersburg.

 

 

It is also a day that many organizations take the opportunity to hold rallies for the independence of previous Soviet republics from the Russian Federation and to lead protest against the government.

 

 

A Celebration of Women

sends our blessings to all the Women of our World in the Soviet Union.

 

 

 

 

Celebrate Your Constitution!