RESOLUTION OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE USSR on the Measures Securing the holding of Referendum on Preserving the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics

Considering the very fact that only people shall take historical responsibility for the future of the USSR, according to the legislation on the Union Referendum the Supreme Council of the USSR decrees:

1. To hold the referendum on Sunday, 17 March 1991, on the whole territory of the USSR on preserving the USSR as the federation of the equal sovereign republics.

2. To enter to the secret ballot-paper the questions put for referendum and the possible answers as follows:

“Do you consider necessary the preservation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as a federation of equal sovereign republics in which the rights and freedom of an individual of any nationality will be fully guaranteed?”

“Yes” or “No”.

3. The voting results for the entire USSR shall be determined upon the results in each union republic.

4. On the basis of articles 17 and 18 of the Union law “on Universal Voting (the USSR Referendum)” the authority of the central commission for the Referendum of 17 March 1991 shall be exercised by the Union Central Electoral Commission for the election of the People’s Deputies.

5. The Supreme authorities of the Republics, the local councils of the people’s deputies and their executive bodies shall secure the expression of the free will of population regarding the issues raised at the Referendum. The citizens shall be free from any influence that may impede the citizens’ right to participate in the Referendum.

6. The supreme authorities of the Republics shall:

- decide until 26 January the issues relating to organizing the Central Republican Commission. The Central Republican Commissions of the Union Referendum shall be authorized to determine the borders of electoral districts within the respective republics;

- decide until 2 February 1991 the issues relating to the district electoral commissions;

- set up the precinct and precinct commissions no later that 11 February 1991.

The supreme authorities of the Republics and the local councils of the people’s deputies shall be advised to observe the Constitutional principles and ensure the development of the relevant commissions respecting the nationality of the voters.

7. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the USSR shall organize the Referendum for the Soviet citizens living in the foreign countries, where possible.

The Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Security and the Ministry of Interior of the USSR shall organize the Referendum at the military units of the USSR.

The proposals on these issues shall be submitted to the Central Commission of the Union Referendum before 21 January 1991.

8. The Government of the USSR shall decide the issues – upon submission of the Central Commission of the Referendum - relating to the material-financial supply of the Referendum, as well as to the involvement of transport and communication agencies in providing the services to the Referendum.

9. The public associations, media means and their boards shall be advised to carry out the informational campaign aimed at explaining to the wider society the essence of the issues put at the referendum, the voting procedure, also the historical role of the decision made by the citizens.

10. According to article 29 of the Union law “on the Universal Voting (the Union Referendum)” the decision made through the Union Referendum is final and it is bounding across the whole territory of the USSR. The final decision may be annulled or altered only through holding the new referendum.

Chairman of the Supreme Council of the USSR A. Loukianov

Moscow, Kremlin.

16 January 1991

(Bulletin of the Peoples’ Deputies Congress of the USSR and the Supreme Council of the USSR, M., 1991, # 4, p. 161-162)