Supreme Soviet of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic

The Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR (Estonian: Eesti NSV Ülemnõukogu) was the formal rubber stamp legislative body of the Estonian SSR without any substantive meaning, which was formally elected in general elections, but whose members were essentially appointed by the leadership of the Communist Party. Before 1988, the Supreme Soviet had no meaningful political role.[2] After its first democratic elections on 18 March 1990, the institution was renamed the Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia on 8 May 1990.[Note 1]

Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR
 Estonian SSR (1940–1941, 1944–1990)
 Estonia (1990–1992)
Coat of arms or logo
Emblem of the Estonian SSR
Type
Type
History
Established1940 (First Soviet occupation)
1944 (1947) (Second Soviet occupation)
Disbanded1941 (German occupation)
1992
Preceded byRiigikogu
Succeeded byRiigikogu
Elections
Sham elections (1940–1985)
Direct single transferable vote (1990)
Last election
1990
Meeting place
Toompea Castle in Tallinn, Estonia

Organization

The structure and formal functions of the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR were copied from the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union. The sessions of the Supreme Soviet lasted only several days twice a year and decisions were made unanimously and without much discussion. Supreme Soviet elections were held after every four years until 1978 and were held every five years in 1978–1985.[3] The Supreme Soviet gathered in Tallinn, in the Toompea Castle building which now houses the Riigikogu.

Chairmen of the Supreme Soviet
Portrait Chairman From To
Voldemar Sassi 25 August 1940 1941
August Kründel 5 March 1947 14 January 1953
Joosep Saat 5 April 1955 23 April 1959
Harald Ilves 23 April 1959 18 April 1963
Vaino Väljas 18 April 1963 20 April 1967
Arnold Koop 20 April 1967 18 December 1968
Ilmar Vahe 18 December 1968 4 July 1975
Johannes Lott 4 July 1975 13 December 1978
Jüri Suurhans 13 December 1978 5 July 1982
Matti Pedak 5 July 1982 27 March 1985
Valde Roosmaa 27 March 1985 18 May 1989
Enn-Arno Sillari 18 May 1989 28 March 1990
Ülo Nugis[4] 29 March 1990 6 October 1992

Presidents of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet

The presidium was the permanent body of the Supreme Soviet. Its chairman was the de jure head of state of Estonian SSR.

The chairmen of the presidium were:[5]

President From To Notes
Johannes Vares 25 August 1940 29 November 1946 First President of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet
Eduard Päll 5 March 1947 4 July 1950
August Jakobson 4 July 1950 4 February 1958
Johan Eichfeld 4 February 1958 12 October 1961
Aleksei Müürisepp 12 October 1961 7 October 1970
Artur Vader 22 December 1970 25 May 1978
Johannes Käbin 26 July 1978 8 April 1983
Arnold Rüütel 8 April 1983 28 March 1990 Last President of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet

Convocations
  • 1st convocation (1940–1946)
  • 2nd convocation (1947–1950)
  • 3rd convocation (1951–1954)
  • 4th convocation (1955–1959)
  • 5th convocation (1959–1962)
  • 6th convocation (1963–1966)
  • 7th convocation (1967–1970)
  • 8th convocation (1971–1975)
  • 9th convocation (1975–1979)
  • 10th convocation (1980–1984)
  • 11th convocation (1985–1990)
  • 12th convocation (1990–1992)

See also

Notes
  1. The Estonian name Ülemnõukogu remained the same, but its translation into English is usually changed from this point from "Supreme Soviet" to "Supreme Council", together with the change of the official name of the country.

References
  1. Toy parliament until March 1990
  2. Toivo Miljan (2004). Historical Dictionary of Estonia. The Scarecrow Press.
  3. "Eesti NSV Ülemnõukogu XII koosseisu stenogrammid ; 1. kd. (Eesti NSV Ülemnõukogu stenogrammid. 12. koosseis) | Digar". www.digar.ee. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  4. Chairman of the Supreme Council from 8 May 1990
  5. "ENSV Ülemnõukogu / EV Ülemnõukogu". Riigikogu (in Estonian). Retrieved 2020-05-05.
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