A bill has been filed in the State Duma aiming to overturn the USSR State Council’s decision recognizing Lithuania as independent. The proposal originates from United Russia deputy Yevgeny Fedorov and was added to the lower house’s electronic database on Wednesday, June 8.
Fedorov contends that the State Council of the USSR acted illegally when it recognized Lithuania’s independence, claiming the move was carried out by an unconstitutional body and violated the USSR Constitution.
The bill also argues that the USSR law governing secession procedures for union republics was breached because no referendum on Lithuania’s secession was conducted, and no transitional framework was established. The explanatory note notes that the issue was not addressed in a manner consistent with the law.
Under Article 67.1 of the Russian Constitution, Russia is described as the legal successor to the USSR on its territory. Fedorov argues that, by this logic, the September 6, 1991 decision recognizing Lithuania’s independence should be voided. The reference is made to a publication that reported on the decision to revoke the independence recognition.
Not by theory alone, but with respect to international law
In discussions with socialbites.ca, Fedorov explained that reversing this decision would help clarify the legal framework and establish clear relations with the international community.
He argues that upholding the rule of law strengthens a nation’s global standing. The State Council’s decision, he says, was illegal and did not have the authority to strip the USSR of territorial integrity or cede land. He notes that the Russian Federation’s own constitutional process involved a referendum at the national level, and that issues about territorial arrangements fall under legal procedures rather than political posturing. This, he argues, is why the current legal order must be reconciled with the realities of international law.
Every illegal act ends with a lawful correction
The author of the bill contends that Lithuania pursues an aggressive line toward Russia, making it necessary to establish a solid legal basis for dialogue. He points to ongoing arms shipments and Lithuania’s focus on legal matters, including detentions of Russian citizens on alleged legal grounds. The aim is to lay down a legal foundation for negotiation with Lithuania, guided by international law rather than contested concepts.
Additionally, he notes the president’s emphasis on defining red lines for NATO. Should legal grounds emerge, Lithuania’s NATO membership could be reassessed. The proposal envisions potential discussions about the Kaliningrad region, corridor regulations, human rights, and other issues that affect residents there.
Fedorov expresses hope that the bill will be reviewed and adopted. He emphasizes that the discussion has only begun and that such questions should be raised now. He believes that future legal changes will follow the pattern that law ultimately governs even when it starts as a contested move. The aim is to base relations on a sound legal footing rather than unilateral demands.
How Lithuania gained independence
The State Council of the USSR, a temporary body not provided for by the USSR Constitution, was created by a 1991 USSR act to manage issues of state administration. This body was intended to handle transitional matters during reforms in the final months of the Soviet era.
This period preceded the August 1991 events that weakened centralized power and shifted authority toward presidents of the union republics, many of whom declared sovereignty. Consequently, the USSR enacted laws that formed the State Council, which served as a coordinating body for policy across republics and effectively replaced the Federation Council in practice.
The State Council included the USSR president and top officials from the twelve union republics, coordinating defense, security, law and order, and foreign affairs with the presidency. On September 6, 1991, the council recognized Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia as independent from the USSR, but this action occurred without a referendum and in tension with the law then in force. Across its tenure the council issued numerous resolutions, with the final meeting recorded on December 10, two days after the Belovezhskaya agreement on the USSR’s dissolution.