Eurasia

Note: This page is a general survey of the vast Eurasian geographic area that stretches west

from the Baltic Sea to the east to the Pacific Ocean, north from the Arctic to the step

of Central Asia in the South. This land was ruled as one Empire in different political

forms. The start date of 1721 was the proclamation of an empire from what had been the

Russian Tsardom (Kingdom) which expanded the Russian territory eastwards to the Tatar lands.

This date is used to indicate the further expansion of the empire that the Soviets would

inherit. By 1913 this empire had expanded to include the Baltic, Poland, Finland, Crimea,

Siberia, the Caucuses, and the Central Asian Khanates and Northern part of Manchuria.

The revolution of 1917 lead to the collapse of the empire that splintered into independent

states, the European ones initially began as German client states in 1918. After end of the

civil war in 1921 the Soviets had successfully reconquered these states except the three Baltic

States that remained independent until 1940. The Soviet Union was founded in 1922 as a union

between Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Transcaucasia. This was changed in 1936 when Transcaucasia

was split into Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan and the five central Asian republics where

admitted as separate members after having been part of Russia. The Soviet Union comprised of

fifteen republics in 1989 dissolved in December 1991 after all the republics declared

independence. The Eurasian Union established in 2015 is not a successor state to the USSR or

even a state at all but an economic union based on the European Union where its members retain

their independence. However, further integration of the union is planned, and for this reason

it should be considered as a continuation of the Eurasian political entity.

02 Nov 1721               Russian Empire

07 Jan 1795               Annexation of Poland (including Latvia and Lithuania)

28 Feb 1801               Annexation of Georgia

28 May 1812               Bessarabia (Moldova) annexed from Principality of Moldavia

22 Feb 1828               Armenia (Eastern) ceded to Russia by Persia

       1847               Russian conquest of Kazakhstan

       1869               Russian conquest of Turkmenistan

17 Mar 1917               Russian Provisional government, abolition of the Monarchy

1917 - 1918               Disintegration of the state, secession of Poland, Finland,

                          Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

30 Dec 1922               Formation of the Soviet Union, accession of Russia, Ukraine,

                          Belarussia and Transcaucasia

13 May 1925               Accession of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan

05 Dec 1936               Accession of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, Transcaucasia dissolved

                          into Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia

02 Aug 1940               Accession of Moldova (annexed from Romania)

03 Aug 1940               Accession of Lithuania

05 Aug 1940               Accession of Latvia

06 Aug 1940               Accession of Estonia

06 Sep 1991               Independence of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania recognised

08 Dec 1991               Belavezha Accords, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus dissolve the Soviet Union

26 Dec 1991               Council of the Republics votes to abolish the union

31 Dec 1991               U.S.S.R finally dissolved, all 15 republics independent

09 Oct 2014               Eurasian Union treaty signed by Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia

01 Jan 2015               Establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU)

Imperial Russia

30 Dec 1922 - 31 Dec 1991 Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R),

                           Russia, Ukraine, Beylorussia and Transcaucasia

13 May 1925               Accession of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan

05 Dec 1929               Accession of Tazhik SSR

05 Dec 1936               Accession of Armenia, Azerbaizhan, Georgia,

                           Kazakh and Kirgiziya

02 Aug 1940               Accession of Moldovian S.S.R (Bessarabia)

03 Aug 1940               Accession of Lithuania

05 Aug 1940               Accession of Latvia

06 Aug 1940               Accession of Estonia

17 Jun 1941 - 1944        Western territories occupied by Germany

11 Mar 1990               Independence of Lithuania declared

17 Mar 1991               Referendum supports the preservation of the Soviet Union by 78%*

06 Sep 1991               Recognition of the independence of the Baltic states

12 Dec 1991               Independence of Russia

16 Dec 1991               Kazakhstan the last remaining Soviet republic declares independence

26 Dec 1991               Dissolution of the U.S.S.R

31 Dec 1991               The union is formally disolved, the Russian Federation becomes

                          the legal successor state

Government: Federal Socialist Republic.

Capital: Moscow.

Language: Russian (de facto).

Religion: None.

National Anthem: "Gimn Sovetskovo Soyuza" (Hymn of the USSR)

National Emblem: Hammer, Sickle and Red Star.

National Day: 7 November, October Revolution (1917).

National Motto: Proletarii vsekh stran, Soedinyaytes! (Workers of the World Unite!).

Currency: Soviet Ruble.

General Secretaries of the Communist party of the U.S.S.R

03 Apr 1922 - 16 Oct 1952 Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili Stalin ............. 1878-1953 (G.SSR)

                          (continues as de facto leader to 05 Mar 1953)

05 Mar      - 14 Mar 1953 Georgy Maksimilianovich Malenkov .................... 1902-1988 (R.SFSR)

                          (de facto)

First Secretaries of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union

07 Sep 1953 - 14 Oct 1964 Nikita Sergeyevich Krushchev ........................ 1895-1971 (R.SFSR)

14 Oct 1964 - 08 Apr 1966 Leonid Ilych Brezhnev ............................... 1906-1982 (UK.SSR)

General Secretaries of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union

08 Apr 1966 - 10 Nov 1982 Leonid Ilych Brezhnev ............................... s.a

10 Nov 1982 - 09 Feb 1984 Yuri Vladimirovich Andropov ......................... 1914-1984 (R.SFSR)

09 Feb 1984 - 10 Mar 1985 Konstantin Ustinovich Chernenko ..................... 1911-1985 (R.SFSR)

11 Mar 1985 - 24 Aug 1991 Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev ....................... 1931-2022 (R.SFSR)

                          (susspended 19 Aug - 22 Aug 1991)

18 Aug      - 22 Aug 1991 State Emergency Committee

                        - Vladimir Aleksandrovich Kryuchkov ................... 1924-2007 (R.SFSR)

                        - Valentin Ivanovich Varennikov ....................... 1923-2009 (R.SFSR)

                        - Dmitriy Timofeyevich Yazov .......................... 1924-2020 (R.SFSR)

                        - Aleksandr Ivanovich Tizyakov ........................ 1926-2019 (R.SFSR)

                        - Sergei Feodorovich Akhromeyev ....................... 1923-1991 (R.SFSR)

                        - Vasily Aleksandrovich Starodubtsev .................. 1931-2011 (R.SFSR)

                        - Oleh Dmitriiyevych Baklaniv ......................... 1932-     (UK.SSR)

                        - Boriss Karlis Pugo .................................. 1937-1991 (LV.SSR)

24 Aug      - 29 Aug 1991 Volodymyr Antonovych Ivashko ........................ 1932-1994 (UK.SSR)

                          (acting)

29 Aug      - 06 Nov 1991 Vacant

Chairman of the Central Executive Committee

30 Dec 1922 - 12 Jan 1938 Mikhail Ivanovich Kalinin ........................... 1875-1946 (R.SFSR)

30 Dec 1922 - 12 Jan 1938 Grygory Ivanovych Petrovsky ......................... 1878-1958 (UK.SSR)

30 Dec 1922 - 16 Jun 1937 Alyaksandr Grygoryevich Chervyakau .................. 1892-1937 (B.SSR)

30 Dec 1922 - 19 Mar 1925 Nariman Kerbalay Nadzaf-oglu Nariman................. 1870-1925 (AZ.SSR)

21 May 1925 -    Jun 1937 Gazanfar Makhmud-oglu Musab ......................... 1888-1938 (AZ.SSR)

21 May 1925 - 21 Jul 1937 Nedirbay Aytak ...................................... 1894-1938 (TM.SSR)

21 May 1925 - 17 Jun 1937 Fayzulla Ubaydullo Xojay ............................ 1896-1938 (UB.SSR)

18 Mar 1931 - 04 Jan 1934 Nusratulla Maksum Lutfullo .......................... 1881-1938 (TK.SSR

04 Jan 1934 - 31 Dec 1937 Abdullo Rakhim ...................................... 1896-1938 (TK.SSR)

Chairmen of the Supreme Soviet

17 Jan 1938 - 19 Mar 1946 Mikhail Ivanovich Kalinin ........................... s.a 

19 Mar 1946 - 15 Mar 1953 Nikolay Mikhailovich Shvernik ....................... 1888-1970 (R.SFSR)

15 Mar 1953 - 07 May 1960 Klyment Yerfremovych Voroshylov ..................... 1881-1969 (UK.SSR)

07 May 1960 - 09 Jul 1964 Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev (1st Time)

15 Jul 1964 - 09 Dec 1965 Anastas Hovhannesi Mikoyan .......................... 1895-1978 (AR.SSR)

09 Dec 1965 - 16 Jun 1977 Mykola Viktorovych Podhorny ......................... 1903-1983 (UK.SSR)

16 Jun 1977 - 10 Nov 1982 Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev (2nd Time)

10 Nov 1982 - 16 Jun 1983 Vasily Vasilyevich Kuznetsov ........................ 1901-1990 (R.SFSR)

16 Jun 1983 - 09 Feb 1984 Yury Vladimirovich Andropov ......................... s.a

11 Apr 1984 - 10 Mar 1985 Konstanin Ustinovich Chernenko ...................... s.a

10 Mar 1985 - 01 Oct 1988 Andrei Andreyevich Gramyka .......................... 1909-1989 (B.SSR)

01 Oct 1988 - 15 Mar 1990 Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev ....................... s.a

President

15 Mar 1990 - 25 Dec 1991 Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev ....................... s.a

19 Aug      - 21 Aug 1991 Gennady Ivanovich Yanayev ........................... 1937-2010 (R.SFSR)

                          (acting [in opposition])

Chairmen of the Council of People's Commissars

30 Dec 1922 - 21 Jan 1924 Vladimir Ilich Ulyanov Lenin ........................ 1870-1924 (R.SFSR)

02 Feb 1924 - 19 Dec 1930 Alexey Ivonavich Rykov .............................. 1881-1937 (R.SFSR)

19 Dec 1930 - 06 May 1941 Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Molotov ..................... 1890-1986

06 May 1941 - 15 Mar 1946 Iosif Dzhugashvili Stalin ........................... s.a

Chairmen of the Council of Ministers

15 Mar 1946 - 05 Mar 1953 Iosif Dzhugashvili Stalin ........................... s.a

05 Mar 1953 - 08 Feb 1955 Georgy Maximilianovich Malenkov ..................... s.a

08 Feb 1955 - 27 Mar 1958 Nikolay Alexandrovich Bulganin ...................... 1895-1975 (R.SFSR)

27 Mar 1958 - 14 Oct 1964 Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev ....................... s.a

14 Oct 1964 - 23 Oct 1980 Alexey Nikolayovich Kosygin ......................... 1904-1980 (R.SFSR)

23 Oct 1980 - 27 Sep 1985 Nikolay Aleksandrovich Tikhonov ..................... 1905-1997 (UK.SSR)

27 Sep 1985 - 14 Jan 1991 Nikolay Ivanovich Ryzhkov ........................... 1929-2024 (UK.SSR)

Premier

14 Jan      - 22 Aug 1991 Valetin Sergayevich Pavlov .......................... 1937-2003 (R.SFSR)

22 Aug      - 06 Sep 1991 Vacant

Chairman of the State Council

06 Sep      - 26 Dec 1991 Ivan Stepanovich Silayev ............................ 1930-2023 (R.SFSR)

Chairmen of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet

17 Jan 1938 - 15 Mar 1990 The Heads of State of the Soviet Union

15 Mar 1990 - 05 Sep 1991 Anatoly Ivanovich Lukyanov .......................... 1930-2019 (R.SFSR)

Chairmen of the Soviet of the Union

12 Jan 1938 - 10 Feb 1946 Andrey Andreyevich Andreyev ......................... 1895-1971 (R.SFSR)

12 Mar 1946 - 25 Feb 1947 Andrey Aleksandrovich Zhdanov ....................... 1896-1948 (R.SFSR)

25 Feb 1947 - 12 Jun 1950 Ivan Andreyevich Parfenov ........................... 1906-1992 (R.SFSR)

1950 - 1954               Mikhail Alekseyevich Yasnov ......................... 1906-1991 (R.SFSR)

06 Jun 1954 - 14 Jul 1956 Aleksandr Petrovich Volkov .......................... 1910-1990 (R.SFSR)

14 Jul 1956 - 18 Mar 1962 Pavel Pavlovich Lobanov ............................. 1902-1984 (R.SFSR)

23 Apr 1962 - 14 Jun 1970 Ivan Vasilyevich Spiridonov ......................... 1905-1991 (R.SFSR)

14 Jul 1970 - 11 Apr 1984 Aleksey Pavlovich Shitikov .......................... 1912-1993 (R.SFSR)

1984 - 1988               Lev Nikolayevich Tolkunov ........................... 1919-1989 (R.SFSR)

24 May 1988 - 25 May 1989 Yury Nikolayevich Khristoradnov ..................... 1929-2018 (R.SFSR)

03 Jun 1989 - 31 Mar 1990 Evgeny Maksimovich Primakov ......................... 1929-2015 (R.SFSR)

03 Apr 1990 - 21 Oct 1991 Ivan Dmitryevich Laptev ............................. 1934-     (R.SFSR)

21 Oct 1991 - 02 Jan 1992 Konstantin Dmitryevich Lubenchenko .................. 1945-     (R.SFSR)

Chairmen of the Soviet of the Nationalities

12 Jan 1938 - 10 Feb 1946 Nikolay Mikhailovich Shvernik ....................... 1888-1970 (R. SFSR)

12 Mar 1946 - 12 Jun 1950 Vasily Vasilyevich Kuznetsov ........................ 1901-1990 (R. SFSR)

12 Jun 1950 - 20 Apr 1954 Zhumbai Shayakhmet .................................. 1902-1966 (Kaz. SSR)

20 Apr 1954 - 27 Mar 1958 Vilis Tenis Latsis .................................. 1904-1966 (Lat. SSR)

27 Mar 1958 - 02 Aug 1966 Janis Voldemar Peive ................................ 1906-1976 (Lat. SSR)

02 Aug 1966 - 14 Jul 1970 Justas Ignac Paleckis ............................... 1899-1980 (Lit. SSR)

14 Jul 1970 - 25 Jul 1974 Yadgar Sadi Nasriddin ............................... 1920-2006 (Uz. SSR)

25 Jul 1974 - 11 Apr 1984 Vitaljis Peteris Rubenis ............................ 1914-1994 (Lat. SSR)

11 Apr 1984 - 25 May 1989 August Eduard Voss .................................. 1916-1994 (Lat. SSR)

06 Jun 1989 - 05 Sep 1991 Rafiq Nishan Ulu Nishan ............................. 1926-2023 (Uz.SSR)

Chairman of the House of the Republics

29 Oct      - 26 Dec 1991 Anuarbek Turlybekuly Alimzhan ....................... 1930-1993 (Kaz. SSR)

• Soviet Republics

CPSU=Kommunisticheskaya partiya Sovetskogo Soyuza (Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Communism, Marxist-Leninism, Stalinism 1922-53). Susspended 29 Aug 1991, dissolved 06 Nov 1991].

Orders: Geroy Sovietskogo Soyuza (Hero of the Soviet Union).

        Orden Lenina (Order of Lenin).

        Geroy Sotsialistmicheskoso Truda (Hero of Socilialist Labour).

Note: The referendum held on 17 March 1991 was not held in Armenia, Estonia, Georgia, Lathuania,

Latvia and Moldova, as these republics favoured independence. The signing of a new Union Treaty

designed to creat a new union scheduled for the 20 August 1991, was cancelled following the failed

coup attempt and never realised.