Estonian Restoration of Independence, legally defined as the Restoration of the

Republic of Estonia A republic () is a " state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th ...

, was proclaimed on 20 August 1991. On that day at 23:02 local time, the Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia, in agreement with the Estonian Committee (the executive organ of the

Congress of Estonia The Congress of Estonia ( Estonian: ''Eesti Kongress'') was an innovative grassroots parliament established in Estonia in 1990–1992 as a part of the process of regaining of independence from the Soviet Union. It also challenged the power and au ...

), declared the illegal

Soviet The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...

occupation and annexation of the country terminated, and proclaimed the full restoration of the independence of Estonia.

1990

On 30 March 1990, the Supreme Soviet of the

Estonian SSR The Estonian SSR,, russian: Эстонская ССР officially the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic,, russian: Эстонская Советская Социалистическая Республика was an National delimitation in ...

adopted a resolution on the state status of

Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, an ...

. Declaring that the occupation of the Republic of Estonia by the Soviet Union on 17 June 1940 did not ''de jure'' interrupt the existence of the Republic of Estonia, The Supreme Soviet declared the state power of the Estonian SSR illegal from the moment of its establishment and proclaimed the beginning of the restoration of the Republic of Estonia. A transitional period was announced until the formation of the constitutional bodies of state power of the Republic of Estonia. On May 8 of the same year, the Supreme Soviet of the ESSR adopted a law invalidating the name "Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic". Also, according to this law, the use of the coat of arms, flag, and anthem of the Estonian SSR as state symbols was terminated and the 1938 Constitution of the independent Republic of Estonia was restored. The name of the Supreme Soviet is thereafter translated as the "Supreme Council". A week later the law on the principles of the interim order of administration of Estonia was adopted, according to which the subordination of public authorities, public administration, court bodies was terminated and the prosecutor's office of the republic to the relevant authorities of the USSR, and they separated from the corresponding system of the USSR. It was announced that relations between the republic and the USSR are now based on the Tartu Peace Treaty, concluded between the Republic of Estonia and the RSFSR on 2 February 1920.

Independence referendum of 3 March 1991

On 3 March, a referendum was held on the independence of the Republic of Estonia, which was attended by those who lived in Estonia before the Soviet annexation and their descendants, as well as persons who have received the so-called "green cards" of the Congress of Estonia. 77.8% of those who voted supported the idea of restoring independence. Denmark recognized Estonia's independence on March 11.

The 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt

The August Coup or August Putsch took place on 19–22 August 1991 and was an attempt by members of the Soviet Union's government to take control of the country from the Soviet President and General Secretary

Mikhail Gorbachev Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev (2 March 1931 – 30 August 2022) was a Soviet politician who served as the 8th and final leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 to the country's dissolution in 1991. He served as General Secretary of the Com ...

19 August 1991

As the coup attempt was taking place in Moscow and with that the military and political attention of the Soviet Union otherwise occupied, various republics of the Soviet Union took the opportunity to declare their independence. On the evening of 19 August, delegates from the Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia and the Estonian Committee started negotiations to confirm the independence of the Republic of Estonia. The main debate was a crucial one: should Estonia declare independence as a new Republic or continue with the juridical continuation of the Republic of Estonia established in

1918 This year is noted for the end of the First World War, on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, as well as for the Spanish flu pandemic that killed 50–100 million people worldwide. Events Below, the events ...

and occupied in 1940.

20 August 1991

At 23:02 on the evening of 20 August 1991, during a live broadcast carried out by Estonian Television, the Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia voted on the confirm of its Restoration of

Independence Independence is a condition of a person, nation, country, or state in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the stat ...

. Out of the 105 delegates of the Supreme Council 70 were present, 69 voted in favour of the restoration. Two delegates, Klavdia Sergij and Kaido Kama, did not register to vote and walked out before voting began. Those who voted in favour of the restoration were: * Ülle Aaskivi *

Mati Ahven Mati Ahven (born 3 February 1943, in Rannu, Estonia) is an engineer and mechanic who was a member of the Estonian Supreme Soviet and a voter for the Estonian restoration of Independence. He graduated from Põltsamaa Secondary School in 1961 and ...

Andres Ammas Andres Ammas (25 February 1962, Tallinn – 4 April 2018) was an Estonian politician, representing the Estonian Free Party in the Riigikogu. He was elected with 1,859 votes in the 2015 election. In 1990–1992, Ammas was a member of the Supreme ...

Tõnu Anton Tõnu Anton (born 26 April 1953, in Pärnu) is an Estonian former politician and judge, most notable for being a voter for the Estonian restoration of Independence. Biography He graduated from Pärnu 1st Secondary School in 1971, and in 1976 from ...

Uno Anton Uno Anton (4 April 1942 in Suislepa – 19 April 2012) was an Estonian politician and a voter for the Estonian restoration of Independence. He was born in Suislepa as the fifth child of six. His father died early and his mother raised their child ...

Lembit Arro Lembit Arro (15 April 1930 – 16 April 2022) was an Estonian general manager of a collective farm and politician who was most notable for being a voter for the Estonian restoration of Independence. Arro graduated in 1944 from Kabala Primary Sch ...

Hillar Eller Hillar Eller (15 December 1939, Kärdla – 22 February 2010) was an Estonian former long distance runner and politician, most notable for being a voter for the Estonian restoration of Independence. He was also the chair of the Estonian Left Part ...

Kaljo Ellik Kaljo Ellik (9 May 1948, Siiksaare – 27 March 2017) was an Estonian politician who voted for the Estonian restoration of Independence. Ellik graduated in 1963 from Kingisepp 1st Secondary School, in 1968 from Räpina Horticultural Engineering ...

Ignar Fjuk Ignar Fjuk (born 12 March 1953, Tartu) is an Estonian architect, politician and radio journalist, most notable for being one of the voters for the Estonian restoration of Independence. He graduated from Hugo Treffner Gymnasium in 1971, and from ...

Illar Hallaste Illar Hallaste (6 May 1959, Kohtla-Järve – 27 October 2012, Tallinn) was an Estonian cleric, politician, lawyer, and businessman, most notable for being a voter for the Estonian restoration of Independence. Education Hallaste studied in Kohtl ...

Liia Hänni Liia Hänni (née Juulik; born 4 October 1946) is an Estonian astrophysicist, social activist and former politician who voted for the Estonian restoration of Independence. Education Born in Atla, Saare County, Liia Hänni graduated from Saare ...

* Arvo Junti *

Jaak Jõerüüt Jaak Jõerüüt (born 9 December 1947 in Tallinn) is an Estonian writer and politician. He was the defense minister of Estonia from November 2004 to 10 October 2005. Jõerüüt first came to political prominence when he became one of the voter ...

* Rein Järlik * Ants Järvesaar * Villu Jürjo *

Hillar Kalda Hillar Kalda (born 6 March 1932, Mallika, Võru County) is an Estonian physician and politician, most notable for being one of the voters for the Estonian restoration of Independence. He graduated from Võru Secondary School in 1950 and from the F ...

Teet Kallas Teet Kallas (born 6 April 1943, Tallinn) is an Estonian writer and former politician, most notable for voting for the Estonian restoration of Independence. Life and work Kallas attended middle school in Tallinn from 1954 to 1962. He left the sch ...

Peet Kask Peet Kask (born 21 February 1948) is an Estonian physicist, political scientist and former politician, most notable for voting for the Estonian restoration of Independence. Kask graduated from the University of Tartu in 1971 with a degree in phy ...

* Johannes Kass *

Kalju Koha Kalju Koha (born 16 August 1956, Tartu) is an Estonian politician and civil servant, most notable for voting for the Estonian restoration of Independence. He graduated in 1974 from Tartu 7th Secondary School and in 1979 with a degree in electric ...

* Valeri Kois * Mai Kolossova * Jüri Kork * Toomas Kork * Heino Kostabi * Ahti Kõo * Tiit Käbin * Ants Käärma *

Mart Laar Mart Laar (born 22 April 1960) is an Estonian politician and historian. He served as the Prime Minister of Estonia from 1992 to 1994 and from 1999 to 2002. Laar is credited with having helped bring about Estonia's rapid economic development dur ...

Marju Lauristin Marju Lauristin (born 7 April 1940) is an Estonian politician, and former Member of the European Parliament and Minister of Social Affairs. She is a member of the Social Democratic Party, part of the Party of European Socialists. Lauristin is c ...

* Enn Leisson * Jüri Liim * Jaan Lippmaa * Alar Maarend * Tiit Made * Mart Madissoon * Tõnis Mets * Aavo Mölder * Ülo Nugis * Ants Paju * Eldur Parder * Heldur Peterson * Andrei Prii * Priidu Priks * Jüri E. Põld * Enn Põldroos * Koit Raud * Jüri Reinson * Andrus Ristkok *

Jüri Rätsep Jüri Rätsep (3 July 1935 – 1 August 2018) was an Estonian lawyer, politician and judge. He graduated in 1956 from the Elva Workers' High School and in 1961 from the law faculty of the University of Tartu. He worked as a researcher and as ...

Arnold Rüütel Arnold Rüütel OIH () (born 10 May 1928) is an Estonian politician and agricultural scientist. He has served as the last chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR from 8 April 1983 to 29 March 1990, Chairman of the Su ...

* Tõnu Saarman * Edgar Savisaar * Hanno Schotter * Lehte Sööt * Aldo Tamm * Rein Tamme *

Andres Tarand Andres Tarand (born 11 January 1940) is an Estonian geographer, climatologist and politician who served as the Prime Minister of Estonia from 1994 to 1995. He was also a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Social Democratic Party, pa ...

* Indrek Toome * Enn Tupp * Ain Tähiste *

Uno Ugandi Uno Ugandi (22 June 1931 Tallinn – 18 May 2020) was an Estonian physician and politician. From 1962 until 1968, Ugandi worked as a surgeon on the island of Saaremaa. From 1968 until 1977, he was a surgeon at the Rapla District Central Hospital, ...

* Ülo Uluots * Heinrich Valk * Ants Veetõusme * Rein Veidemann * Helgi Viirelaid * Vaino Väljas

21 August 1991

On the morning of 21 August 1991, Soviet paratroopers were taking charge of the Tallinn’s TV tower, while the television broadcast was cut off for a while, the radio signal was strong as a handful of Estonian Defence League (the unified paramilitary armed forces of Estonia) members barricaded the entry into signal rooms. By the afternoon of the same day it was clear that the coup in Moscow had failed and the paratroopers released the tower and left Estonia.

References

{{Estonia topics Dissolution of the Soviet Union Law of Estonia Declarations of independence 1991 in Estonia Singing Revolution 1991 in the Soviet Union August 1991 events in Europe 1991 documents