Treaty of Tartu — 1920 peace treaty between Estonia and the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
The Treaty of Tartu formally ended the Estonian War of Independence and secured Soviet Russia's recognition of Estonian sovereignty.
Key Facts
- Date signed
- 2 February 1920
- Ratifications exchanged
- 30 March 1920, Moscow
- League of Nations registration
- 12 July 1922
- Conflict ended
- Estonian War of Independence, 1918–1920
- Key recognition
- Soviet Russia recognized Estonian independence
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The 1918–1920 Estonian War of Independence arose following Estonia's declaration of independence amid the collapse of the Russian Empire. Bolshevik Russia sought to reclaim the territory, leading to armed conflict. By late 1919, military stalemate and political pressure pushed both sides toward negotiation to end hostilities.
On 2 February 1920, representatives of the Republic of Estonia and Soviet Russia signed the Treaty of Tartu. Soviet Russia formally and unconditionally recognized Estonian independence and sovereignty, renouncing all prior sovereign rights over Estonian people and territory, whether grounded in historical legal positions or existing international treaties.
The treaty concluded active warfare and provided Estonia with internationally recognized statehood. Ratifications were exchanged in Moscow on 30 March 1920, and the treaty was later registered in the League of Nations Treaty Series in 1922, embedding Estonian independence within the broader framework of post-World War I international law.
Political Outcome
Soviet Russia unconditionally recognized Estonian independence and sovereignty, ending the Estonian War of Independence.
Estonia under disputed sovereignty with Bolshevik Russia contesting its independence
Estonia recognized as an independent and sovereign state by Soviet Russia