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Plan:

    Introduction
  • 1 Background
  • 2 All-Union referendum about the preservation of the USSR
  • 3 SSG-federation (Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics)
  • 4 SSG-confederation
    • Notes

Introduction

The countries of the Union of Sovereign States (USS) are marked in red; red and orange - union republics of the USSR (SSG-federation)

Union of Sovereign States, SSG- the failed renewed union of the republics of the USSR.

1. Background

In December 1990, the question of the reorganization of the USSR was raised.

On December 3, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR supported the concept of the draft Union Treaty proposed by the President of the USSR M. S. Gorbachev and submitted it for discussion at the IV Congress people's deputies THE USSR .

On December 24, 1990, the deputies of the IV Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR, having held a roll call vote, decided to consider it necessary to preserve the USSR as a renewed federation of equal sovereign republics, in which the rights and freedoms of a person of any nationality will be fully ensured.

On the same day, at the initiative and insistent demand of the President of the USSR M. S. Gorbachev, the Congress adopted a resolution on the issue of holding an all-Union referendum on maintaining the renewed Union as a federation of equal sovereign Soviet Socialist Republics. 1,677 deputies voted for the adoption of the resolution, 32 - against, 66 - abstained.


2. All-Union referendum on the preservation of the USSR

On March 17, 1991, a referendum was held, in which the majority of citizens voted for the preservation and renewal of the USSR, including the population of six republics (Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Georgia, Moldova, Armenia), in which the highest authorities refused to hold a referendum, as they had previously announced on independence or on the transition to independence according to the results of their previous independence referendums.


Wikisource has the full text Treaty on the Union of Sovereign States (published on August 15, 1991)

Based on the concept of a referendum authorized by the central and republican authorities working group within the framework of the so-called. Novo-Ogaryovo process in the spring and summer of 1991, a project was developed to conclude a new union - Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics (USSR, Union of SSR, Union of Sovereign States) as a soft, decentralized federation.

The draft agreement on the creation of the Union was initialed twice - on April 23 and June 17, 1991. final edition "Treaties on the Union of Sovereign States" was published in the Pravda newspaper on August 15. On August 3, 1991, the same newspaper published a speech by the President of the USSR Gorbachev on television, which noted that "the union treaty has been open for signing" since August 20, 1991. The new Treaty stated: “The states forming the Union shall have full political power, independently determine their national state structure, the system of authorities and administration, they can delegate part of their powers to other states parties to the Treaty ... ". Moreover, in the 2nd section of the 23rd article of the new Treaty, it was said: “The present Treaty ... comes into force from the moment of signing ... by authorized delegations. For the states that signed it, from the same date, the Treaty on the Formation of the USSR of 1922 is considered invalid.

Nine of the fifteen union republics were to become members of the new union. former USSR: as M. S. Gorbachev stated in a television address on August 3, 1991, on August 20, Belarus, Kazakhstan, the RSFSR, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan were to sign a new union treaty, and in the fall Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine and Turkmenistan could join them.

But the State Committee for the State of Emergency, on August 18-21, made an unsuccessful attempt to forcibly remove M. S. Gorbachev from the post of President of the USSR, disrupting the signing of the Union Treaty:

“... Taking advantage of the freedoms granted, trampling on the newly emerging sprouts of democracy, extremist forces arose that headed for the liquidation of the Soviet Union, the collapse of the state and the seizure of power at any cost. The results of the nationwide referendum on the unity of the Fatherland have been trampled on.”

The contradictions between the central and republican authorities and the national elites deepened, and all the union republics one after another declared independence.


4. SSG-confederation

Wikisource has the full text Treaty on the Union of Sovereign States (published on November 27, 1991)

On September 5, 1991, the 5th Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR adopted the Declaration of Human Rights and Freedoms and announced transition period to form new system public relations, preparation and signing of the Treaty on the Union of Sovereign States.

In the fall of 1991, under the sanction of the central and republican authorities, the working group of the Novo-Ogaryovo process developed new project Agreements - on creation Union of Sovereign States(SSG) as a confederation independent states("confederate state").

Preliminary consent to the conclusion on December 9, 1991 of an agreement on the creation of the SSG with the capital in Minsk was given on November 14, 1991 only by seven republics (Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan). The two republics that held independence referendums the day before (Armenia and Ukraine) refused to join the confederal union.

However, on December 8, 1991, the heads of three states (the Republic of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine) at a meeting in Belovezhskaya Pushcha, “noting that negotiations on the preparation of a new Union Treaty had reached an impasse, the objective process of secession of the republics from the USSR and the formation of independent states became real fact”, concluded the Belovezhskaya agreement on the creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States - an intergovernmental and inter-parliamentary organization that does not have the status of a state. Other union republics later joined the CIS.

In December 1992, the Congress of People's Deputies Russian Federation appealed to the parliaments of the states - former republics Union of the SSR, and to the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of States Members of the Commonwealth of Independent States, with a proposal to consider the issue of "creating a confederation or other form of rapprochement of the independent states of Europe and Asia - the former republics of the USSR, whose peoples express a desire for unity", but this proposal was not found support.

Multilateral agreement on the proposed later (in March 1994) project to create a similar confederal union (Eurasian Union) was also not reached. The two states joined the Union of Russia and Belarus.


Notes

  1. According to the federal project - Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics (USSR)
  2. Decree of the Supreme Council of the USSR of December 3, 1990 No. 1809-1 "On the General Concept of the New Union Treaty and the Proposed Procedure for Its Conclusion" // Bulletin of the SND and the USSR Armed Forces. - 1990. - No. 50. - Art. 1077.
  3. Decree of the SND of the USSR of December 24, 1990 No. 1853-1 "On the preservation of the USSR as a renewed federation of equal sovereign republics" // Bulletin of the SND and the USSR Armed Forces. - 1990. - No. 52. - Art. 1158.
  4. 1 2 Lyubarev A. E. Elections in Moscow: experience of twelve years. 1989-2000 - lyubarev.narod.ru/elect/book/soderzh.html. - M.: Stolny grad, 2001. - 412 p. - ISBN 5-89910-019-2.
  5. Decree of the SND of the USSR of December 24, 1990 No. 1856-1 "On holding a referendum of the USSR on the issue of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics" // Bulletin of the SND and the USSR Armed Forces. - 1990. - No. 52. - Art. 1161.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Draft agreement on the SSG-federation (Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics) (July 1991) - fomin-ivan.blogspot.com/2009/12/1991.html
  7. The Armed Forces, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as well as some functions of the foreign policy department became the prerogative of the republican authorities.
  8. “Much would have turned out differently…” // Krasnaya Zvezda, August 16, 2003. - www.redstar.ru/2003/08/16_08/6_01.html
  9. Appeal to the Soviet people - new.hse.ru/sites/tp/isakov/1990-1996dn/15/1/ From the Appeal to the Soviet people of the State Emergency Committee of the USSR.htm // Izvestia. - 1991. - August 20.
  10. "Declaration of human rights and freedoms" approved by the Decree of the SND of the USSR on September 5, 1991 No. 2393-1 // Bulletin of the SND and the USSR Armed Forces. - 1991. - No. 37. - Art. 1083.
  11. Decree of the SND of the USSR dated September 5, 1991 No. 2391-1 “On measures arising from the joint Statement of the President of the USSR and the top leaders of the union republics and the decisions of the extraordinary session of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR” // Vedomosti SND and the USSR Armed Forces. - 1991. - No. 37. - Art. 1081
  12. Draft agreement on the SSG-confederation (November 1991) - www.gorby.ru/userfiles/prilii.doc
  13. Draft Treaty on the Union of Sovereign States - soveticus5.narod.ru/gazety/pr911127.htm#u001 // Pravda. - 1991. - November 27.
  14. Statement of the Heads of State of the Republic of Belarus, RSFSR, Ukraine December 8, 1991 - new.hse.ru/sites/tp/isakov/1990-1996dn/86/1/8 December 1991 - Statement of the Heads of State of the Republic of Belarus, RSFSR, Ukraine. htm / / Vedomosti SND i VS RSFSR. - 1991. - No. 51. - Art. 1798.
  15. Address of the SND of the Russian Federation of December 14, 1992 No. 4087-1 "To the parliaments of independent states - the former republics of the USSR - ru.wikisource.org/wiki/Appeal_of_SND_RF_of_12.14.1992_№_4087-I" // Gazette of the SND and the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. - 1992. - No. 51. - December 24. - Art. 3022.
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Prepared for signing on August 20, 1991, the draft treaty on the USSR was supposed to determine the main parameters for the structure of the renewed union state. Significantly strengthening the independence of the republics in comparison with the previous period, the draft treaty preserved the USSR as a single state with a union center with important powers. The failure to sign the treaty as a result of the creation and collapse of the State Emergency Committee was an important step towards the collapse of the USSR.

The socio-economic crisis and the unsuccessful course of Gorbachev's reforms contributed to the growth of centrifugal tendencies in the USSR. The center was perceived in the republics of the USSR as a source of socio-economic disasters, getting rid of it - as getting rid of difficulties.
Since 1988, mass national movements have unfolded in the Baltic States and the Caucasus, advocating greater independence for the republics. Leaders national movements in the Baltic States put forward the idea of ​​"sovereignty", which was interpreted as the priority of republican laws over union laws. But in another sense of the word, sovereignty can also mean independence.
Regional groupings of the party nomenklatura, seeking to use the situation to establish more complete control over state property, also opposed themselves to the union center.
The response to the offensive of the "democrats" was the transition of part of the bureaucracy to the side of the "democrats" and national movements. In fact, this transition brought the "democratic movement" itself under the control of the bureaucratic elites. The main motive of regional groupings was not democratic and national values, but the redistribution of power and property in their favor.
The regional groupings of the nomenklatura took the slogan of "sovereignty" worked out by the national movements as a political weapon in the struggle for autonomy against the center, and thereby significantly strengthened the national separatist movements and weakened the resistance to them from the center. It became obvious that the stake of the confrontation is property, which is the basis of the alliance of nationalists and "democrats" in their struggle with the center. The problem was who and under what conditions will receive the right to divide the "public" property. The struggle for power, as a position that determines the results of the division of property, became the basis for the alliance of national elites and leaders of mass "democratic" and national movements.
After the declaration of “sovereignty” by Russia on June 12, 1990, the rest of the republican elites preferred to reach the same level of autonomy from the center.
Even where national movements did not have the support of the majority of the population (as in Ukraine and Belarus), the republics began to pursue a policy of “sovereignty”, establishing regional control over the economy and resources. This led to economic ties in the USSR began to disintegrate. Since the autumn of 1990, the republics began to limit transfers to the union budget, which, in fact, led to the bankruptcy of the USSR - a result that the United States tried in vain to achieve in 1981-1986. Even the fall in oil prices did not have such a crushing effect as the independence of regional bureaucratic clans and the "initial accumulation" of private capital at the expense of state enterprises. This, in turn, strengthened the centrifugal tendencies.
If regionalization and the struggle for property were the social "basis" of the process of the collapse of the USSR, then the actions Russian leadership became its driving force, the significance of which surpassed the actions of the regional separatists, since the blow was delivered to the very center of the state structure of the USSR.
The “democratic movement”, whose main leader since 1990 was B. Yeltsin, managed to lead and lead a significant and most massive part of civil society. The unifying idea of ​​this socio-political force (unlike civil movement 1988-1989) became westernization. The wide dissemination of the ideas of Westernization was the result of a number of circumstances: the failure of reforms in the spirit of democratic socialism (in their Gorbachev execution), the desire of the most dynamic part of the communist elite to seize property in the course of privatization, the prosperous situation of the Western countries, which contrasted with the crisis that befell the USSR. Under these conditions, politicians and information structures leading in the “democratic movement” began to advocate a transition to social forms Western societies, which, as it seemed, would give in Russia the same fruits that the inhabitants of the United States and Western Europe enjoy. The Russian leadership countered the unsuccessful policy of the union center with a readiness to carry out radical liberal reforms in the RSFSR, which threatened to destroy the common economic space.
However, this does not mean that Yeltsin's victory in any case meant the collapse of the Union. Back in March 1991, Yeltsin asserted: “The Union will not fall apart. No need to scare people! There is no need to sow panic in this regard! Even if these words were insincere, they were addressed to the mass base Russian leader. The Democrats did not seek the disintegration of the Union.
Despite the noticeable erosion of the political center, he still retained a significant electoral base. On March 17, 1991, the majority of the country's inhabitants spoke in a referendum for the preservation of the "renewed Union". But this potential of the "Soviet people" did not have a political core. The inability of the Gorbachev team to create a democratic coalition in defense of renewed socialism and the Union, coupled with the failure of the reforms, soon led the leader of the USSR to complete isolation in society.
The centrifugal tendencies in the USSR caused by objective factors were exacerbated not only by the actions of national movements and the Russian leadership that entered into an alliance with them, but also by the unsuccessful political decisions of Gorbachev and his team. Back in March 1990, in connection with the declaration of independence of Lithuania, Gorbachev made a bet on renegotiating the Union Treaty, thus casting doubt on the act of 1922. This decision, proposed back in 1988 by the Estonian leadership, has now been extended from the Baltic the entire USSR, “crossed out” all constitutional and international legal acts adopted since the formation of the USSR. It fundamentally expanded the possibilities of international intervention in the affairs of the USSR, since the republics acquired the features of subjects international law. If before that it was about working out decisions that concretized (and thus made it difficult) the right of the republic to withdraw from the USSR, now, at least theoretically, a decision could be made that abolished the Union itself. Gorbachev's initiative to renegotiate the treaty was not inevitable. There were no legal grounds for revising the 1922 treaty, because it was absorbed into the Soviet constitutions. The struggle to preserve the Baltics by renegotiating the agreements of 1940, which had dubious legitimacy, made it possible to provide the Baltic republics with special status. Instead, Gorbachev chose to synchronize the crises in the center's relations with the various republics, bringing them together in a single process of negotiations, in which the most radical opponents of the center sought maximum rights for all republics, even those quite loyal to the center. Gorbachev was losing room to maneuver, as the Republican elites now presented a united front.
In February 1991, relations between supporters of Yeltsin and Gorbachev escalated to the limit. A campaign of civil disobedience to the allied authorities unfolded in the country. The decrees of the President of the USSR were not actually carried out, there were miners' strikes and demonstrations of democratic organizations. Only on April 29, 1991, Gorbachev and Yeltsin managed to agree on a compromise.
On March 17, in the spring of 1991, a referendum was held on the issue of preserving the renewed USSR. It was attended by 80% of the voters of the USSR. 76.4% of those participating in the vote were in favor of preserving the renewed USSR.
In May-July 1991, Novo-Ogaryovo Gorbachev held a meeting with the leaders of 9 union republics. As a result of the hard work of scientists and politicians, representatives of the center and the republics in the presidential residence near Moscow in Novo-Ogaryovo, the text of the Treaty on the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics was agreed upon (the word “socialist” was removed from the title as too ideological).
If the very initiative to conclude a union treaty created for the Union mortal danger, then the project developed in 1990-1991. was a kind of constitutional reform that preserved a single state with broad independence of its constituent republics.
For Gorbachev at this stage, it was important to force all the republican elites to recognize the very fact of the existence of the framework of a single state as a subject of international law. This deprived the "international community" of the opportunity to guarantee the sovereignty of the Soviet elites and the transformation of domestic problems and the borders of the USSR into international ones. This task forced Gorbachev to make the most serious concessions, to agree to a confederal state structure, if only the existence of one state in the USSR was recognized.
The preservation of a unified state opened up the possibility for further settlement of domestic problems precisely as domestic ones. The contradictions of the treaty could be removed in the course of further struggle in the development of the Constitution of the Union - and not only in favor of the republics.
Most of all, during the reorganization of the Soviet Union, the allied departments and the CPSU were to suffer, which could almost completely lose power. Gorbachev was also not happy with the outcome of the negotiations, as the new union could become essentially a confederal entity rather than a federal state. The powers of the President of the USSR became insignificant. At this stage, such a result suited the Republican leaders more. However, even he did not mean the irreversible collapse of the USSR, but only a regrouping of power within the Union. The preservation of the state opened up opportunities for new regroupings in the future (including in favor of the center).
The signing of the Union Treaty was scheduled for August 20, but was thwarted by the coup attempt known as the GKChP.

Treaty on the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics
project

The signatory states to this treaty
Proceeding from the declarations proclaimed by them on state sovereignty and recognizing the right of nations to self-determination;
Considering the closeness of the historical destinies of their peoples and fulfilling their will to preserve and renew the Union, expressed at the referendum on March 17, 1991;
Striving to live in friendship and harmony, ensuring equal cooperation;
Desiring to create conditions for the all-round development of each individual and reliable guarantees of his rights and freedoms;
Taking care of the material well-being and spiritual development of peoples, mutual enrichment of national cultures, ensuring common security;
Drawing lessons from the past and taking into account the changes in the life of the country and around the world,
We decided to build our relations in the Union on new principles and agreed on the following.

I.
Basic principles
First. Each republic - a party to the treaty - is a sovereign state. The Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics (USSR) is a sovereign federal democratic state formed as a result of the unification of equal republics and exercising state power within the powers that the parties to the treaty voluntarily vest in it.
Second. The states forming the Union reserve the right to independent solution all issues of their development, guaranteeing equal political rights and opportunities for socio-economic and cultural development to all peoples living on their territory. The parties to the treaty will proceed from a combination of universal and national values, resolutely oppose racism, chauvinism, nationalism, and any attempts to limit the rights of peoples.
Third. The states forming the Union consider essential principle priority of human rights in accordance with the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, other generally recognized norms of international law. All citizens are guaranteed the opportunity to learn and use their native language, unhindered access to information, freedom of religion, and other political, socio-economic, personal rights and freedoms.
Fourth. The states that form the Union see the most important condition for the freedom and well-being of the people and every person in the formation of civil society. They will strive to meet the needs of people on the basis of a free choice of forms of ownership and methods of management, the development of an all-Union market, the implementation of the principles of social justice and security.
Fifth. The states that form the Union have full political power, independently determine their national-state and administrative-territorial structure, the system of authorities and administration. They may delegate some of their powers to other States parties to the treaty, of which they are members.
The parties to the treaty recognize democracy based on popular representation and the direct expression of the will of peoples as a common fundamental principle, and strive to create rule of law, which would serve as a guarantor against any tendencies towards totalitarianism and arbitrariness.
Sixth. The states forming the Union consider one of the most important tasks the preservation and development national traditions, state support for education, health, science and culture. They will promote an intensive exchange and mutual enrichment of humanistic spiritual values ​​and achievements of the peoples of the Union and the whole world.
Seventh. The Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics acts in international relations as a sovereign state, a subject of international law - the successor to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. His main goals in the international arena are lasting peace, disarmament, elimination of nuclear and other weapons mass destruction, cooperation of states and solidarity of peoples in solving global problems humanity.
The states forming the Union are full members international community. They have the right to establish direct diplomatic, consular and trade relations with foreign states, to exchange plenipotentiary representations with them, to conclude international treaties and participate in the activities of international organizations, without prejudice to the interests of each of the allied states and their common interests, without violating the international obligations of the Union.
II.
Union device
Article 1. Membership in the Union.
Membership of states in the Union is voluntary. The states that form the Union are included in it directly or as part of other states. This does not infringe on their rights and does not relieve them of their obligations under the contract. All of them have equal rights and bear equal duties.
Relations between states. One of which is part of the other, are regulated by agreements between them, the Constitution of the state in which it is a member, and the Constitution of the USSR. In the RSFSR - by a federal or other agreement, the Constitution of the USSR.
The Union is open for accession to it by other democratic states recognizing the treaty.
The states forming the Union retain the right to freely withdraw from it in the manner established by the parties to the treaty and enshrined in the Constitution and laws of the Union.

Article 2 Citizenship of the Union.
A citizen of a state that is a member of the Union is at the same time a citizen of the Union.
Citizens of the USSR have equal rights, freedoms and obligations enshrined in the Constitution, laws and international treaties of the Union.

Article 3 Territory of the Union.
The territory of the Union consists of the territories of all the states forming it.
The parties to the treaties recognize the boundaries existing between them at the time of signing the treaty.
The boundaries between the states forming the Union can be changed only by agreement between them, which does not violate the interests of other parties to the agreement.

Article 4. Relations between the states forming the Union.
Relations between the states forming the Union are governed by this treaty, the Constitution of the USSR, and treaties and agreements that do not contradict them.
The parties to the treaty build their relations within the Union on the basis of equality, respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-interference in internal affairs, settlement of disputes by peaceful means, cooperation, mutual assistance, conscientious performance obligations under the Union Treaty and inter-republican agreements.
The states forming the Union undertake: not to resort in their relations to force and threat of force; do not encroach on territorial integrity each other; not to conclude agreements that are contrary to the goals of the Union or directed against the states forming it.
It is not allowed to use the troops of the USSR Ministry of Defense inside the country, except for their participation in solving urgent national economic problems in exceptional cases, in eliminating the consequences of natural disasters and environmental disasters, as well as cases provided for by the legislation on the state of emergency.

Article 5. Sphere of jurisdiction of the USSR.
The parties to the treaty endow the USSR with the following powers:
– Protection of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Union and its subjects; declaration of war and conclusion of peace; ensuring defense and leadership of the Armed Forces, border, special (government communications, engineering and other), internal, railway troops Union; organization of the development and production of weapons and military equipment.
– Ensuring the state security of the Union; establishment of the regime and protection of the State Border, economic zone, maritime and air space of the Union; leadership and coordination of the activities of the security agencies of the republics.
– Implementation foreign policy Union and coordination of foreign policy activities of the republics; representation of the Union in relations with foreign states and international organizations; conclusion of international treaties of the Union.
– Implementation foreign economic activity Union and coordination of foreign economic activity of the republics, representation of the Union in international economic and financial institutions, the conclusion of foreign economic agreements of the Union.
Approval and execution of the Union budget, the implementation of money emission; storage of gold reserves, diamond and foreign exchange funds of the Union; management of all-Union space communication and information systems, geodesy and cartography, metrology, standardization, meteorology; nuclear power management.
– Adoption of the Constitution of the Union, introduction of amendments and additions to it; the adoption of laws within the powers of the Union and the establishment of the foundations of legislation on issues agreed with the republics; supreme constitutional control.
– Managing the activities of federal law enforcement agencies and coordinating the activities of law enforcement agencies of the Union and the republics in the fight against crime.

Article 6. Sphere of joint jurisdiction of the Union and the republics.
The bodies of state power and administration of the Union and the republics jointly exercise the following powers:
– Protection of the constitutional order of the Union, based on the present treaty and the Constitution of the USSR; ensuring the rights and freedoms of citizens of the USSR.
- Determination of the military policy of the Union, implementation of measures to organize and ensure defense; establishment of a unified procedure for conscription and passage military service; establishment of a border zone regime; resolving issues related to the activities of troops and the deployment of military facilities on the territory of the republics; organization of mobilization training National economy; enterprise management defense complex.
– Determination of the strategy of the state security of the Union and ensuring the state security of the republics; changing the State Border of the Union with the consent of the relevant party to the agreement; protection of state secrets; determination of the list of strategic resources and products that are not subject to export outside the Union, the establishment of general principles and standards in the field environmental safety; establishing the procedure for obtaining, storing and using fissile and radioactive materials.
- Determining the foreign policy of the USSR and monitoring its implementation; protection of the rights and interests of citizens of the USSR, the rights and interests of the republics in international relations; establishing the foundations of foreign economic activity; conclusion of agreements on international loans and credits, regulation of the external public debt of the Union; unified customs business; security and rational use natural resources of the economic zone and the continental shelf of the Union.
– Defining a strategy for the socio-economic development of the Union and creating conditions for the formation of an all-Union market; conducting a unified financial, credit, monetary, tax, insurance and pricing policy based on a common currency; creation with the use of gold reserves, diamond and foreign exchange funds of the Union; development and implementation of all-Union programs; control over the execution of the Union budget and agreed money emission; creation of all-union funds for regional development and elimination of the consequences of natural disasters and catastrophes; creation of strategic reserves; maintaining unified all-Union statistics.
– Development of a unified policy and balance in the field of fuel and energy resources, management of the country's energy system, main gas and oil pipelines, all-Union rail, air and sea transport; establishing the foundations for nature management and protection environment, veterinary medicine, epizootics and plant quarantine; coordination of actions in the field of water management and resources of inter-republican significance.
– Determination of the foundations of social policy on employment, migration, working conditions, its payment and protection, social security and insurance, public education, health care, physical education and sports; establishing the basis for pension provision and maintaining other social guarantees, including when citizens move from one republic to another; establishing a unified procedure for indexing income and a guaranteed subsistence minimum.
– Organization of fundamental scientific research and stimulation of scientific and technological progress, establishment of general principles and criteria for the training and certification of scientific and pedagogical personnel; definition general order the use of therapeutic agents and techniques; promoting the development and mutual enrichment of national cultures; preservation of the original habitat small peoples, creating conditions for their economic and cultural development.
– Control over the observance of the Constitution and laws of the Union, decrees of the President, decisions taken within the framework of the Union competence; creation of an all-Union forensic accounting and information system; organizing the fight against crimes committed on the territory of several republics; determination of a unified regime for the organization of correctional institutions.

Article 7. Procedure for exercising powers government agencies Union and joint powers of state bodies of the Union and the republics.
Issues related to joint competence are resolved by the authorities and administrations of the Union and its constituent states through coordination, special agreements, adoption of the Fundamentals of Legislation of the Union and the Republics and the corresponding republican laws. Questions referred to the competence of the Union bodies are resolved by them directly.
Powers not expressly assigned by Articles 5 and 6 to the exclusive jurisdiction of the authorities and administration of the Union or to the joint competence of the organs of the Union and the republics, remain under the jurisdiction of the republics and are exercised by them independently or on the basis of bilateral and multilateral agreements between them. After the signing of the agreement, a corresponding change in the powers of the governing bodies of the Union and the republics is carried out.
The parties to the agreement proceed from the fact that as the all-Union market develops, the sphere of direct state management of the economy is reduced. The necessary redistribution or change in the scope of powers of the governing bodies will be carried out with the consent of the states that make up the Union.
Disputes concerning the exercise of the powers of Union bodies or the exercise of rights and performance of duties in the field of joint powers of bodies of the Union and the republics shall be resolved through conciliation procedures. If no agreement is reached, the disputes are submitted to the Constitutional Court of the Union.
The states that form the Union participate in the exercise of the powers of the Union bodies through the joint formation of the latter, as well as special procedures for coordinating decisions and their implementation.
Each republic may, by concluding an agreement with the Union, additionally delegate to it the exercise of its individual powers, and the Union, with the consent of all the republics, may transfer to one or more of them the exercise of its individual powers on their territory.

Article 8 Property
The Union and the states forming it ensure free development, protection of all forms of ownership and create conditions for the functioning of enterprises and economic organizations within the framework of a single all-Union market.
The earth, its subsoil, water, other natural resources, plant and animal world are the property of the republics and the inalienable property of their peoples. The order of possession, use and disposal of them (the right of ownership) is established by the legislation of the republics. The right of ownership in relation to resources located on the territory of several republics is established by the legislation of the Union.
The states that form the Union assign to it the objects of state property necessary for the exercise of the powers vested in the Union bodies of power and administration.
The property owned by the Union is used in the common interests of its constituent states, including in the interests of the accelerated development of lagging regions.
The states forming the Union are entitled to their share in the gold reserves, diamond and currency funds Union, available at the time of the conclusion of this agreement. Their participation in the further accumulation and use of treasures is determined by special agreements.

Article 9. Union taxes and fees.
To finance the expenditures of the Union budget related to the implementation of the powers transferred to the Union, uniform Union taxes and fees are established at fixed interest rates, determined in agreement with the republics, on the basis of the items of expenditure presented by the Union. Control over the expenditures of the Union budget is exercised by the parties to the treaty.
All-Union programs are financed by share contributions from the interested republics and the Union budget. The scope and purpose of all-Union programs are regulated by agreements between the Union and the republics, taking into account the indicators of their socio-economic development.

Article 10. Constitution of the Union.
The Constitution of the Union is based on this treaty and must not contradict it.

Article 11 Laws
The laws of the Union, the constitutions and laws of the states forming it, must not contradict the provisions of this treaty.
The laws of the Union on matters within its jurisdiction shall have supremacy and are binding on the territory of the republics. The laws of the republic shall have supremacy in its territory in all matters except those which are within the jurisdiction of the Union.
The Republic has the right to suspend the operation of the law of the Union on its territory and to protest it if it violates this treaty, contradicts the Constitution or the laws of the Republic adopted within the limits of its powers.
The Union has the right to protest and suspend the operation of the law of the Republic if it violates this agreement, contradicts the Constitution or the laws of the Union adopted within its powers.
Disputes are referred to the Constitutional Court of the Union, which makes a final decision within one month.

III.
Union bodies.
Article 12. Formation of the bodies of the Union.
Union bodies of power and administration are formed on the basis of the free will of the peoples and the representation of the states that form the Union. They act in strict accordance with the provisions of this treaty and the Constitution of the Union.

Article 13. Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
The legislative power of the Union is exercised by the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, which consists of two chambers: the Council of Republics and the Council of the Union.
The Council of the Republics consists of representatives of the republics delegated by their higher authorities authorities. The republics and national-territorial formations retain no less number of seats in the Council of Republics than they had in the Council of Nationalities of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR at the time of the signing of the treaty.
All deputies of this chamber from the republic, which is directly a part of the Union, have one common vote when resolving issues. The procedure for electing representatives and their quotas are determined by a special agreement between the republics and by the electoral law of the USSR.
The Council of the Union is elected by the population of the entire country in constituencies with an equal number of voters. At the same time, representation in the Council of the Union of all the republics participating in the treaty is guaranteed.
The chambers of the Supreme Soviet of the Union jointly amend the Constitution of the USSR; accept new states into the USSR; determine the foundations of the domestic and foreign policy of the Union; approve the union budget and report on its execution; declare war and make peace; approve changes to the borders of the Union.
The Council of the Republics adopts laws on the organization and procedure for the activities of the Union bodies; considers questions of relations between the republics; ratifies international treaties of the USSR; gives consent to the appointment of the Cabinet of Ministers of the USSR.
The Council of the Union considers issues of ensuring the rights and freedoms of citizens of the USSR and adopts laws on all issues, with the exception of those that fall within the competence of the Council of Republics. Laws adopted by the Council of the Union come into force after approval by the Council of the Republics.

Article 14. President of the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics.
The President of the Union is the HEAD of the union state, who has the highest executive and administrative power.
The President of the Union acts as a guarantor of compliance with the Union Treaty, the Constitution and laws of the Union; is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Union; represents an alliance with foreign countries; exercises control over the fulfillment of the international obligations of the Union.
The President is elected by the citizens of the Union on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot for a term of 5 years and no more than two consecutive terms. A candidate who receives more than half of the votes of the voters who took part in the voting in the Union as a whole and in the majority of its constituent states is considered elected.

Article 15. Vice President of the USSR.
The Vice-President of the USSR is elected together with the President of the USSR. The Vice-President of the Union performs certain functions of the President of the Union under the authority of the President of the Union and replaces the President of the USSR in the event of his absence and the impossibility of fulfilling his duties.

Article 16. Cabinet of Ministers of the USSR.
Cabinet of Ministers of the Union - body executive power Union, subordinate to the President of the Union and responsible to the Supreme Council.
The Cabinet of Ministers is formed by the President of the Union in agreement with the Council of the Republics of the Supreme Council of the Union.
Heads of governments of the republics participate in the work of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Union with the right of a decisive vote.

Article 17. Constitutional Court of the USSR.
The Constitutional Court of the USSR is formed on an equal basis by the President of the USSR and each of the chambers of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
The Constitutional Court of the Union considers questions on the compliance of legislative acts of the Union and the republics, decrees of the President of the Union and the presidents of the republics, normative acts of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Union with the Union Treaty and the Constitution of the Union, and also resolves disputes between the Union and the republics. between republics.

Article 18. Union (federal) courts.
Union (federal) courts - the Supreme Court of the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics, the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Union, the courts in the Armed Forces of the Union.
The Supreme Court of the Union and the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Union exercise judicial power within the powers of the Union. The chairmen of the highest judicial arbitration bodies of the republics are ex officio members of the Supreme Court of the Union and the Supreme Arbitration Court of the Union, respectively.

Article 19
Supervision over the implementation of the legislative acts of the Union is carried out by the Prosecutor General of the Union, prosecutors general (prosecutors) of the republics and prosecutors subordinate to them.
The Prosecutor General of the Union is appointed by the Supreme Council of the Union and is accountable to it.
The prosecutors general (prosecutors) of the republics are appointed by their supreme legislative bodies and are ex officio members of the collegium of the Union Prosecutor's Office. In their activities of supervising the implementation of federal laws, they are accountable as the highest legislatures their States, and the Attorney General of the Union.

IV.
Final provisions.
Article 20. Language of interethnic communication in the USSR.
Republics determine their own official language(languages). The parties to the agreement recognize the Russian language as the language of interethnic communication in the USSR.

Article 21 Capital of the Union
The capital of the USSR is the city of Moscow.

Article 22. State symbols of the Union.
The Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics has the State Emblem, flag and anthem.

Article 23 Entry into force of the treaty.
This agreement is approved by the highest state authorities of the states forming the Union, and comes into force from the moment of signing by their authorized delegations.
For the states that signed it, from the same date, the Treaty on the Formation of the Union of the USSR of 1922 is considered invalid.
With the entry into force of the treaty, the most favored nation treatment is in effect for the states that have signed it.
Relations between the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics and the republics that are part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics but have not signed this Treaty shall be settled on the basis of the legislation of the USSR Union, mutual obligations and agreements.

Article 24
The Union and the states that form it are mutually responsible for the fulfillment of the obligations assumed and compensate for the damage caused by violations of this agreement.

Article 25
This Treaty or its individual provisions may be canceled, amended or supplemented only with the consent of all the states forming the Union.
If necessary, by agreement between the states that signed the treaty, annexes to it may be adopted.

Article 26. Succession of the supreme bodies of the Union.
In order to ensure the continuity of the exercise of state power and administration, the highest legislative, executive and judiciary The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics shall retain their powers until the formation of the highest state bodies of the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics in accordance with this treaty and the new Constitution of the USSR.

Gorbachev - Yeltsin: 1500 days of political confrontation. M., 1992.

Gorbachev M.S. Life and reforms. M., 1996.

Yeltsin B.N. President's Notes. M., 199

A failed anniversary. Why didn't the USSR celebrate its 70th anniversary? M., 1992.

Pikhoya R.G. Soviet Union: the history of power. 1945-1991. M., 1998.

The collapse of the USSR. The documents. M., 2006.

What factors contributed to the beginning of the disintegration of the USSR? Which of them were objective, and which were subjective, depending on the actions of individuals?

Could Gorbachev refuse to make concessions to Yeltsin and other republican leaders in Novo-Ogaryovo? If so, what should he have done to achieve this?

What were the legal consequences of preparing a draft of a new union treaty?

What areas were included in the draft treaty within the competence of the Union and the joint competence of the Union and the republics?

Only a limited number of issues are under the jurisdiction of the union of sovereign states, while all its members retain state sovereignty. Such alliances are created, as a rule, to solve certain problems and achieve specific goals and are rarely stable in historical perspective, but there are exceptions.

What is a confederation?

A union of sovereign states is a form of government in which all decisions of the central government are not directly valid, but are mediated by the authorities of the member states of the union. The criteria for defining any union as confederate are so vague that many political scientists even tend not to consider a confederation a full-fledged state.

All decisions made by the confederate government must be approved by the authorities of the states in the union. However, the most important feature confederation is the right of any of its members to withdraw own will without coordinating such a decision with the other members and the central government.

However, it should be taken into account that a significant variety of forms of state-legal unions of states does not make it possible to set permanent and unchanging criteria for defining a confederation. In this case, it makes sense to refer to historical examples and practice state government.

Historical forms of confederation

The history of statehood knows examples of both confederations with fairly strong centralization and clear powers of the central government, and rather amorphous state formations in which the center performed only nominal functions.

A striking example of the instability of a confederation as a union of sovereign states is the United States, on the example of which one can trace the evolution of a confederation from an entity with an extremely weak center to a typical federation with a strong head of state.

The first Declaration indicated that the states conclude separate agreements between themselves for joint defense and improvement of infrastructure, however, the "Articles of Confederation", which indicated the action plan for unification, were rather advisory in nature. Later, the Articles were vehemently criticized by the Founding Fathers and the government of the United States of America underwent a significant transformation.

History of Switzerland

Switzerland is considered to be the most striking example of the ability of a confederation to a long-term sustainable existence. In its current form, such a state-legal union of sovereign states took shape on August 1, 1291, when three Swiss cantons signed the so-called union letter.

Later, in 1798, Napoleonic France abolished the confederal structure of Switzerland, establishing the unitary Helvetic Republic. However, five years later, this decision had to be canceled, returning the Alpine state to its natural state.

A confederation is a permanent union of sovereign states, however, even in the case of a confederation, there are a number of issues that are dealt with by the central government. For example, in modern Switzerland, such issues are the issuance of money and defense policy.

However, the main way to ensure state security in the case of Switzerland is political neutrality, which guarantees the country's non-interference in any international conflicts. Such a position of the state in the world political arena provides it with a stable economic position and security on the part of the world's leading players, since each of them is interested in the existence of a neutral arbiter or mediator.

Prospects for a Confederate Device

Despite the fact that historically the confederation appeared simultaneously with the federation, this form of union of sovereign states has become much less common.

Throughout the late Middle Ages and the entire Modern Age, there was a trend in state building towards centralization and strong state control in all areas.

Today, however, lawyers and state experts consider the confederal form of the device the most promising and agree that it will become increasingly popular.

Modern confederations

These expectations stem from the fact that international practice there has been an obvious trend towards a partial renunciation of sovereignty in favor of supranational structures, which some political scientists tend to consider the prototypes of future large confederations.

A striking example of a permanent union of states is which they have a common currency, a common border and are subject to many decisions of the central authorities, although they are advisory.

The signatory states to this treaty, on the basis of the proclaimed

their declarations of sovereignty and recognizing the right of nations to self-determination;

considering the closeness of the historical destinies of their peoples and expressing their will

live in friendship and harmony, developing an equal mutually beneficial

cooperation;

taking care of their material well-being and spiritual development,

mutual enrichment of national cultures, ensuring common security;

wishing to create reliable guarantees of the rights and freedoms of citizens,

decided on a new basis to create a Union of Sovereign States and

agreed on the following.

I. BASIC PRINCIPLES

First. Each republic - a party to the treaty is sovereign

state. Union of Sovereign States (USS) -- confederate

democratic state exercising power within the limits of authority,

with which it is voluntarily endowed by the parties to the treaty.

Second. The states forming the Union reserve the right to

independent solution of all issues of its development, guaranteeing equal

political rights and opportunities for socio-economic and cultural

progress to all the peoples living on their territory. Parties to the agreement

will proceed from a combination of universal and national values,

resolutely oppose racism, chauvinism, nationalism, any attempt

restrictions on the rights of peoples.

Third. The states forming the Union consider it the most important principle

priority of human rights in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Rights

human, other generally recognized norms of international law. Everyone

citizens are guaranteed the opportunity to learn and use their native language,

unhindered access to information, freedom of religion, others

political, socio-economic, personal rights and freedoms.

Fourth. The states forming the Union see the most important condition

freedom and well-being of their peoples and of every person in the formation

civil society. They will strive to meet the needs

people on the basis of free

choice of forms of ownership and methods of management, development

the all-union market, the implementation of the principles of social justice and

security.

Fifth. The states forming the Union shall independently determine their own

national-state and administrative-territorial structure,

system of government and administration. They recognize the common fundamental

principle of democracy based on popular representation and direct

the will of peoples, strive to create a state of law, which

would serve as a guarantor against any tendencies towards totalitarianism and arbitrariness.

Sixth. The states forming the Union consider one of the most important tasks

preservation and development of national traditions, state support

education, health care, science and culture. They will assist

intensive exchange and mutual enrichment of humanistic spiritual values

and achievements of the peoples of the Union and the whole world.

Seventh. The Union of Sovereign States acts in international

relations as a sovereign state, subject of international law

successor to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. His main goals

in the international arena are lasting peace, disarmament, elimination

nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, cooperation between states and

solidarity of peoples in solving global problems of mankind.

The states forming the Union are subjects of international law.

They have the right to establish direct diplomatic, consular

communications, trade and other relations with foreign states, to exchange

plenipotentiaries with them, conclude international treaties and

participate in the activities of international organizations without prejudice to the interests

of each of the states forming the Union and their common interests, without violating

international obligations of the Union.

II. UNION DEVICE

Article 1. Membership in the Union

Membership of states in the Union is voluntary.

Parties to this Treaty are the states directly

forming the Union.

The Union is open for accession by other democratic states,

recognizing the Treaty. Admission to the Union of new states is carried out with

consent of all parties to this agreement.

The states forming the Union retain the right to freely secede from it.

in the manner prescribed by the parties to the agreement.

Article 2 Citizenship of the Union

A citizen of a state that is a member of the Union is at the same time

a citizen of the Union of Sovereign States.

Citizens of the Union have equal rights, freedoms and duties

laws and international treaties of the Union.

Article 3 Territory of the Union

The territory of the Union consists of the territories of all member states

contracts.

Union guarantees inviolability state borders that are included in it.

Article 4. Relations between the states forming the Union

Relations between the states forming the Union are governed by this

agreement, as well as other agreements that do not contradict it and

agreements.

The states that are parties to the treaty build their relations as part of

Union on the basis of equality, respect for sovereignty, -: non-intervention in

internal affairs, settlement of disputes by peaceful means, cooperation,

mutual assistance, conscientious fulfillment of obligations under this agreement

and inter-republican agreements.

The states forming the Union undertake: not to resort in relations

among themselves to force and threat by force; do not encroach on territorial

each other's integrity not to enter into agreements contrary to the objectives of the Union

or directed against other states - parties to the treaty.

Article 5. Armed Forces of the Union

The Union of Sovereign States has a single Armed Forces "with

centralized management.

The goals, purpose and procedure for using the unified Armed Forces, and

also the competence of the states - parties to the treaty in the field of defense

governed by the terms of this Agreement.

States parties to the treaty have the right to create republican

armed formations whose functions and strength are determined

the specified agreement.

It is not allowed to use the Armed Forces of the Union within the country, for

exclusion of their participation in the aftermath of natural disasters,

environmental disasters, as well as cases provided for by law

about the state of emergency.

Article 6

multilateral agreements

The states parties to the treaty form a single political and

economic space and base their relations on the

principles of this agreement and the benefits provided by it. Relationship with

states that are not members of the Union of Sovereign States are based on

generally accepted norms of international law.

In order to ensure the common interests of the states - parties to the treaty

areas of joint competence are established and appropriate

multilateral treaties and agreements:

About the economic community;

On joint defense and collective security;

On the coordination of foreign policy;

On the coordination of general scientific and technical programs;

On the protection of human rights and national minorities;

On the coordination of general environmental programs;

In the field of energy, transport, communications and space;

On cooperation in the field of education and culture;

On the fight against crime.

Article 7. Powers of Union (interstate) bodies

For the implementation of common tasks arising from the treaty and multilateral

agreements, the states forming the Union delegate to the Union bodies

the necessary powers.

The states forming the Union participate in the exercise of the powers of the Union

bodies through their joint formation, as well as special

procedures for coordinating decisions and their implementation.

Each party to the treaty may, by concluding an agreement with the Union

additionally delegate to him the exercise of certain of his powers, and

Union, with the consent of all participants, transfer to one or more of them

exercising their individual powers on their territory.

Article 8. Property

The States parties to the treaty shall ensure the free development and

protection of all forms of ownership.

States parties to the treaty shall place at the disposal of the bodies of the Union

property necessary for the exercise of their powers. This

property is joint property the states that make up the Union, and

used solely for their common interests, including accelerated development

lagging regions.

The use of land, its subsoil and other natural resources of states --

of the parties to the treaty to exercise the powers of the federal bodies is carried out

in accordance with the laws of these states.

Article 9 Budget of the Union

The procedure for financing the Union budget and controlling its spending

part is established by special agreement.

Article 10 Laws of the Union

The constitutional basis of the Union of Sovereign States is the present

Treaty and Declaration of Human Rights and Freedoms.

The laws of the Union are adopted on matters within the competence of the Union, and in

within the limits of the powers assigned to it by this Agreement. They are required for

execution on the territory of all states - parties to the treaty.

The state party to the treaty has the right to protest and suspend

operation on its territory of the law of the Union, if it violates this

The Union, represented by its supreme authorities, has the right to protest and

suspend the operation of the law of the state party to the treaty, if it

violates this agreement.

Disputes are resolved through conciliation procedures or referred to

Supreme Court of the Union, which makes the final decision within

one month.

III. BODIES OF THE UNION

Article 11. Formation of the bodies of the Union

Bodies of the Union of Sovereign States provided for by this

treaty, are formed on the basis of the free will of the peoples and

full representation of the states forming the Union.

Organization, powers and procedure for the activities of authorities,

administration and justice are established by the relevant laws, not

contrary to this agreement.

Article 12

The legislative power of the Union is exercised by the Supreme Council of the Union,

consisting of two chambers: the Council of the Republics and the Council of the Union.

The Council of the Republics consists of 20 deputies from each state,

constituting the Union, delegated by its supreme authority.

The RSFSR has 52 deputies in the Council of the Republics. Other States --

parties to the treaty that include republics and autonomous

education, are additionally delegated to the Council of the Republics by one deputy

from each republic and autonomous entity. In order to ensure

sovereignty of the states - parties to the treaty and their equality - with

The Council of the Union is elected by the population of the Union in constituencies with

an equal number of voters. This guarantees representation in

Council of the Union of all states - parties to the treaty.

The Chambers of the Supreme Council of the Union jointly accept new members of the Union

states, hear the President of the Union on the most important issues

domestic and foreign policy of the Union, approve the Union budget and report on its

performance, declare war and make peace.

The Council of the Republics decides on the organization and procedure of activities

bodies of the Union of Sovereign States, considers issues of relations between

republics, ratifies and denounces the international treaties of the Union, gives

consent to the appointment of a Union government.

The Council of the Union considers issues of ensuring the rights and freedoms of citizens and

makes decisions on all issues within the competence of the Supreme Council for

with the exception of those that fall within the competence of the Council of the Republics.

Laws adopted by the Council of the Union come into force after their approval.

Council of the Republics.

Article 13 President of the Union

The President of the Union is the head of the confederate state.

The President of the Union acts as a guarantor of compliance with the Treaty on the Union

of the Sovereign States and the laws of the Union, is the Commander-in-Chief

Armed Forces of the Union, represents the Union in relations with foreign

states, monitors the implementation of international

obligations of the Union.

The President of the Union is elected by the citizens of the Union in the manner prescribed by

By law, for a period of five years and no more than two consecutive terms.

Article 14. Vice President of the Union

The Vice-President of the Union is elected together with the President of the Union.

The Vice-President of the Union performs, under the authority of the President of the Union, some of his

Article 15

The State Council of the Union is created to agree on the most important

issues of domestic and foreign policy affecting common interests

States parties to the treaty.

The State Council consists of the President of the Union and senior officials

persons of states - parties to the treaty. The work of the State Council

headed by the President of the Union.

The decisions of the Council of State are binding on all

executive authorities.

Article 16 Government of the Union

The Government of the Union is the executive body of the Union,

subordinate to the President of the Union, responsible to the Supreme Council

The Union Government is headed by the Prime Minister. Part

governments include the heads of governments of the states parties to the treaty,

Chairman of the Interstate Economic Committee (First Deputy

prime minister), deputy prime ministers and heads of departments,

stipulated by agreements between the states-participants of the treaty.

The Government of the Union is formed by the President of the Union in agreement with

Council of the Republics of the Supreme Council of the Union.

Article 17 Supreme Court of the Union

The Supreme Court of the Union decides on the conformity of laws

Union and the laws of the states - parties to the agreement - to this agreement and

Declaration of human rights and freedoms;

considers civil and criminal cases of the interstate

nature, including cases on the protection of the rights and freedoms of citizens; is the highest

jurisdiction over military courts. At the Supreme Court of the Union

a prosecutor's office was created to supervise the implementation of legislative

acts of the Union.

The procedure for the formation of the Supreme Court of the Union is determined by law.

Article 18. Supreme Arbitration Court of the Union

The Supreme Arbitration Court of the Union resolves economic disputes between

states - parties to the agreement, as well as disputes between enterprises,

under the jurisdiction of the various states parties to the treaty.

IV. FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 19. Language of interethnic communication in the Union

The parties to the agreement independently determine their state language

(languages). The language of interethnic communication in the Union of the states - participants

treaties recognize the Russian language.

Article 20. Capital of the Union

The capital is the city of Moscow.

Article 21. State Symbols of the Union

The Union has a state emblem, flag and anthem.

Article 22

This Agreement or any of its provisions may be revoked,

amended or supplemented only with the consent of all the states constituting the Union.

Article 23. Entry into force of the treaty

This agreement is approved by the highest state authorities

of the states constituting the Union, and shall enter into force after its signing by their

authorized delegations.

For the states that signed it, from the same date it is considered to have lost

force Treaty on the formation of the USSR in 1922.

Article 24. Liability under the Agreement

The Union and the states forming it are mutually responsible for

fulfillment of the obligations assumed and compensate for the damage caused by violations

actual agreement.

Article 25 Succession of the Union

The Union of Sovereign States is the legal successor of the Union of Soviet

Socialist Republics. Succession is subject to the provisions

articles 6 and 23 of this agreement.