The Republic of Estonia gained its independence from the Russian Empire on 24 February 1918 and established diplomatic relations with many countries via membership of the League of Nations. The forcible incorporation of Estonia into the Soviet Union in 1940 was not generally recognised by the international community and the Estonian diplomatic service continued to operate in some countries. Following the restoration of independence from the Soviet Union, Russia was one of the first nations to re-recognize Estonia's independence. Estonia's immediate priority after regaining its independence was the withdrawal of Russian forces from Estonian territory. In August 1994, this was completed. However, relations with Moscow have remained strained primarily because Russia decided not to ratify the border treaty it had signed with Estonia in 1999.
The flag of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic flag shows a yellow hammer and sickle and outlined star on a red field above a band of water waves near the bottom, and was adopted by the Estonian SSR on February 6, 1953.
The "State Anthem of the Estonian SSR" was the regional anthem of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic from 1945 to 1990.
Parliamentary elections were held in Latvia on 5 and 6 June 1993, the first after independence was restored in 1991. Latvian Way emerged as the largest party in the Saeima, winning 36 of the 100 seats. A total of 23 parties participated in the elections, although only eight received 4% or more of votes and won seats. Voter turnout was 91.2%, the highest in the country's history. Only 66–75% of Latvian residents qualified to vote, with the majority of those not able to vote being Russian.
Jaan Tõnisson was an Estonian statesman, serving as the Prime Minister of Estonia twice during 1919 to 1920, as State Elder from 1927 to 1928 and in 1933, and as Foreign Minister of Estonia from 1931 to 1932.
The Constitution of Estonia is the fundamental law of the Republic of Estonia and establishes the state order as that of a democratic republic where the supreme power is vested in its citizens. The first Constitution was adopted by the freely elected Estonian Constituent Assembly on 15 June 1920 and came into force on 21 December 1920. The second Constitution was adopted on 24 January 1934, following a referendum in 1933, and was in force until the third Constitution was enacted on 1 January 1938. It remained in force, de facto, until 16 June 1940, when the Soviet Union occupied Estonia and, de jure, until 28 June 1992, when the fourth and current Constitution of the Republic of Estonia was adopted by referendum.
The Russian Party in Estonia was a minor political party in Estonia.
An independence referendum was held in the Republic of Georgia on 31 March 1991. It was approved by 99.5% of voters.
Elections to the Supreme Soviet were held in the Estonian SSR on 18 March 1990, the first free parliamentary election in Estonia since 1932. A total of 105 deputies were elected, of which four were from military districts. Altogether 392 candidates ran for seats in the Soviet. The opposition pro-independence Popular Front won the plurality of the seats. The anti-independence "Joint Council of Work Collectives", representing mostly the Russian-speaking minority in Estonia, as well as the reformed communists, who favored independence but close relations with the USSR and were supported by Indrek Toome, who was running under the Free Estonia banner, both gained around 25 seats. During its first session, the new Supreme Soviet elected the former Communist Party member Arnold Rüütel as its chairman, allowing him to stay as the nominal leader of Estonia.
A referendum on the future of the Soviet Union was held on 17 March 1991. The question put to voters was
A referendum on the citizenship law was held in Latvia on 3 October 1998. The Saeima had made amendments to the law in June that increased the opportunities for naturalisation and provided the additional option of obtaining Latvian citizenship for non-citizens (nepilsoņi) and stateless persons (bezvalstnieki) born in Latvia from August 1991 onwards. Voters were asked "are you for or against the repeal of the law "Amendments in the Law of Citizenship"". A majority of 53.9% voted against repealing the law.
A referendum on restoring the monarchy was held in Albania on 29 June 1997 alongside parliamentary elections. Officially the proposal was rejected by 66.7% of voters, although Crown Prince Leka claimed that 65.7% voted in favour.
A constitutional referendum was held in Estonia between 10 and 12 June 1933. The new constitution proposed by Parliament was rejected by 67.3% of voters, with a turnout of 66.5%.
A constitutional referendum was held in Estonia between 14 and 16 October 1933. After two new constitutional drafts proposed by Parliament had been rejected by referendums in 1932 and June 1933, a third draft proposed by the radical right-wing Movement of Veterans of the War of Independence was approved by 72.7% of voters, with a turnout of 77.9%.
A referendum on a new constitution and citizenship was held in Estonia on 28 June 1992. Voters were asked whether they approved of the new constitution drawn up by the Constitutional Assembly and extending suffrage to people registered as citizens. The new constitution was approved by 91.9% of voters, whilst the suffrage extension was rejected by 53.5%. Voter turnout was 66.8% for the constitution question and 66.7% for the suffrage question.
A referendum on the citizenship law was held in Latvia on 17 and 18 December 1927. Voters were asked whether they approved of repealing the amendments made to the citizenship law by the Saeima. The referendum was passed and the amendments were cancelled. Of a total of 1,120,026 registered voters, only 242,798 cast valid votes.
A referendum on the Insurance Law was held in Latvia on 24 and 25 February 1934. The referendum was initiated by the Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party and its supporters and asked voters whether they approved of the law "On Provision in cases of old age, disability and unemployment", more commonly known as the Insurance Law. The law would provide social protection for the elderly, disabled and unemployed. Although it was passed by a wide margin, voter turnout was below the necessary threshold and the law was not passed by the Saeima.
An independence referendum was held in Latvia on 3 March 1991, alongside a similar referendum in the Republic of Estonia. Known as the "Popular Survey about the independence of the Republic of Latvia", voters were asked "are you in favour of a democratic and independent Republic of Latvia". It was approved by 74.9% of voters, with a turnout of 87.6%. Latvian Republic civilians registered in Soviet Army units also had the right to vote in this poll.
An independence referendum was held in the Lithuania on 9 February 1991. It was approved by 93.2% of voters. The number of voters voting "yes" was 76.5% of all registered voters, far exceeding the threshold of 50%. Independence had been declared on 11 March 1990, and was achieved in August 1991.
Jüri Rätsep was an Estonian lawyer, politician and judge.
