1993 Russian constitutional crisis — political unrest in Russia in September and October 1993
The 1993 Russian constitutional crisis ended with Yeltsin shelling parliament, establishing presidential dominance and a new constitution.
Key Facts
- Duration
- Ten days of street fighting (3–4 October 1993)
- Deaths (official)
- 147 people
- Wounded (official)
- 437 people
- Parliament dissolved
- 21 September 1993
- Amnesty granted
- February 1994 by State Duma
- New constitution adopted
- 1993 Constitution of the Russian Federation
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Following the Soviet Union's dissolution in December 1991, Russia retained its Soviet-era 1978 constitution while Yeltsin assumed increasing executive powers. A prolonged political standoff developed between Yeltsin and the parliament—the Congress of People's Deputies and Supreme Soviet—over authority and economic reform, culminating in Yeltsin's unconstitutional dissolution of the legislature on 21 September 1993.
Parliament impeached Yeltsin on 23 September and proclaimed vice president Alexander Rutskoy acting president, barricading itself in the White House. Ten days of street fighting followed between police and rival demonstrators. On 4 October, Yeltsin ordered army tanks to shell the White House and special forces to storm it, arresting Supreme Soviet Chairman Ruslan Khasbulatov, Rutskoy, and other resistance leaders.
Yeltsin consolidated executive power and pushed through the adoption of the 1993 Russian constitution, which significantly expanded presidential authority. All participants were granted amnesty by the State Duma in February 1994. The conflict became the deadliest episode of street fighting in Moscow since the October Revolution and moved Russia firmly toward a presidential system.