Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic
In its final decades of its existence, the Soviet Union consisted of 15 Soviet Socialist Republics (SSR), often called simply Soviet republics. Within their limits of autonomy all of them were socialist republics ruled by the corresponding Communist parties. They are all independent countries now; 12 of them (all except the Baltic states) are, only very loosely, organized under the heading Commonwealth of Independent States.
The Soviet Union was a confederation. In accordance with article 72 of the Soviet constitution adopted in 1977, each republic retained the right to secede from the USSR.
The USSR was a highly centralised and authoritarian entity. Under the constitution adopted in 1936 and modified along the way until October 1977, the political foundation of the Soviet Union was formed by the Soviets (Councils) of People's Deputies. These existed at all levels of the administrative hierarchy, with the Soviet Union as a whole under the nominal control of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, located in Moscow. The role of the Soviets in the individual republics and other territories was primarily to put into effect the decisions made by the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.
Soviet Union in its final state
Sorted by region
Russia is by far the largest in area, it spans both Europe and Asia. Of the other 14, Kazakhstan is by far the largest. Russia is also by far the most populated, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are next, in that order.
Other republics of the Soviet Union existed over the history
Autonomous republics of the Soviet Union
A number of nations had autonomy within the main Soviet republics and called Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republics, or ASSRs.
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Referenced By
Elbrus | Kabardino-Balkaria | Mount Elbrus
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