20 August Club
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Estonian Restoration of Independence, legally defined as the Restoration of the
Republic of Estonia Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia, is a country in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, and to the east by Ru ...
, was proclaimed on 20 August 1991. On that day at 23:02 local time, the Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia, in agreement with the Estonian Committee (the executive organ of the
Congress of Estonia The Congress of Estonia (Estonian: ''Eesti Kongress'') was a grassroots parliament elected in February 1990 in then Soviet-occupied Estonia and actively participating in the popular nonviolent resistance to the Soviet rule, which resulted in the ...
), declared the illegal
Soviet The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
occupation and annexation of the country terminated, and proclaimed the full restoration of the independence of Estonia.


1990

On 30 March 1990, the Supreme Soviet of the
Estonian SSR The Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic, (abbreviated Estonian SSR, Soviet Estonia, or simply Estonia ) was an administrative subunit ( union republic) of the former Soviet Union (USSR), covering the occupied and annexed territory of Estonia ...
adopted a resolution on the state status of
Estonia Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia, is a country in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, and to the east by Ru ...
. The resolution declared that the Soviet occupation of 17 June 1940 did not ''de jure'' interrupt the existence of the Republic of Estonia, the Supreme Soviet declared the state power of the Estonian SSR illegal from the moment of its establishment and proclaimed the start of a transitional period to full ''de facto'' independence pending the restoration of the constitutional bodies of state power of the Republic of Estonia. On 8 May the same year, the Supreme Soviet of the ESSR adopted a law invalidating the name "Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic". Also, according to this law, the use of the coat of arms, flag, and anthem of the Estonian SSR as state symbols was terminated and the 1938 Constitution of the independent Republic of Estonia was restored. The name of the Supreme Soviet is thereafter translated as the "Supreme Council". A week later the law on the principles of the interim order of administration of Estonia was adopted, according to which the subordination of public authorities, public administration, court bodies was terminated and the prosecutor's office of the republic to the relevant authorities of the USSR, and they separated from the corresponding system of the USSR. It was announced that relations between the republic and the USSR are now based on the Tartu Peace Treaty, concluded between the Republic of Estonia and the RSFSR on 2 February 1920.


Independence referendum of 3 March 1991

On 3 March, a referendum was held on the independence of the Republic of Estonia, which was attended by those who lived in Estonia before the Soviet annexation and their descendants, as well as persons who have received the so-called "green cards" of the Congress of Estonia. 77.8% of those who voted supported the idea of restoring independence. Denmark recognized Estonia's independence on 11 March.


The 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt

The August Coup or August Putsch took place on 19–22 August 1991 and was an attempt by members of the Soviet Union's government to take control of the country from the Soviet President and General Secretary
Mikhail Gorbachev Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev (2 March 1931 – 30 August 2022) was a Soviet and Russian politician who served as the last leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 to dissolution of the Soviet Union, the country's dissolution in 1991. He served a ...
.


19 August 1991

As the coup attempt was taking place in Moscow and with that the military and political attention of the Soviet Union otherwise occupied, various republics of the Soviet Union took the opportunity to declare their independence. On the evening of 19 August, delegates from the Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia and the Estonian Committee started negotiations to confirm the independence of the Republic of Estonia. The main debate was a crucial one: should Estonia declare independence as a new Republic or continue with the juridical continuation of the Republic of Estonia established in
1918 The ceasefire that effectively ended the World War I, First World War took place on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of this year. Also in this year, the Spanish flu pandemic killed 50–100 million people wor ...
and occupied in 1940.


20 August 1991

At 23:02 on the evening of 20 August 1991, during a live broadcast carried out by Estonian Television, the Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia voted on the confirm of its Restoration of
Independence Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state, in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the status of ...
. Out of the 105 delegates of the Supreme Council 70 were present, 69 voted in favour of the restoration. Two delegates, Klavdia Sergij and
Kaido Kama Kaido Kama (born 18 December 1957) is an Estonian politician, conservationist, and teacher. He served as the Minister of Justice of Estonia from 1992 to 1994, as well as Estonia's Minister of the Interior from 1994 to 1995. Biography Kama gradua ...
, did not register to vote and walked out before voting began. Those who voted in favour of the restoration were: *
Ülle Aaskivi Ülle Aaskivi (née Kiin; 5 December 1950 – 17 January 2007) was an Estonian lawyer, politician, and public official. Aaskivi was elected a member of the Estonian Supreme Soviet in 1990 and the Estonian Constitutional Assembly, as well as one ...
* Mati Ahven * Andres Ammas *
Tõnu Anton Tõnu Anton (born 26 April 1953, in Pärnu) is an Estonian former politician and judge, most notable for being a voter for the Estonian restoration of Independence. Biography He graduated from Pärnu 1st Secondary School in 1971, and in 1976 from ...
* Uno Anton * Lembit Arro * Hillar Eller * Kaljo Ellik *
Ignar Fjuk Ignar Fjuk (born 12 March 1953) is an Estonian architect, politician, and radio journalist, most notable for being one of the voters for the Estonian restoration of Independence. Born in Tartu, Fjuk graduated from Hugo Treffner Gymnasium in 1971 ...
* Illar Hallaste *
Liia Hänni Liia Hänni (née Juulik; born 4 October 1946) is an Estonian astrophysicist, social activist and former politician who voted for the Estonian restoration of Independence. Education Born in Atla, Saare County, Liia Hänni graduated from Saare ...
* Arvo Junti *
Jaak Jõerüüt Jaak Jõerüüt (born 9 December 1947 in Tallinn) is an Estonian writer and politician. He was the defense minister of Estonia from November 2004 to 10 October 2005. Jõerüüt first came to political prominence when he became one of the vote ...
*
Rein Järlik Rein Järlik (né Ullo Järlik (until 1937); born 8 October 1935, Tartu) is a former Estonian politician and television journalist. He was a presenter at Eesti Televisioon and one of the leaders of the Singing Revolution. Järlik graduated from ...
* Ants Järvesaar *
Villu Jürjo Villu Jürjo (12 November 1950 – 1 August 2024) was an Estonian Lutheran cleric who was most notable for voting for the Estonian restoration of Independence.
* Hillar Kalda * Teet Kallas *
Peet Kask Peet Kask (born 21 February 1948) is an Estonian physicist, political scientist and former politician, most notable for voting for the Estonian restoration of Independence. Kask graduated from the University of Tartu in 1971 with a degree in phy ...
* Johannes Kass * Kalju Koha * Valeri Kois *
Mai Kolossova Mai Kolossova (née Pärda; born 19 May 1937, Tartu) is an Estonian agronomist, pedagogue, party worker and politician, most notable for voting for the Estonian restoration of Independence. Biography Mai Pärda was born 19 May 1937, in Tartu. Sh ...
* Jüri Kork * Toomas Kork * Heino Kostabi *
Ahti Kõo Ahti Kõo (born 29 March 1952) is an Estonian lawyer, writer and former politician. He is a member of the which unites the members of Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia who voted for the restoration of the independence of Estonia. Kõ ...
* Tiit Käbin * Ants Käärma *
Mart Laar Mart Laar (born 22 April 1960) is an Estonian politician and historian. He served as the Prime Minister of Estonia from 1992 to 1994 and from 1999 to 2002. Laar is credited with having helped bring about Estonia's Economy_of_Estonia#Restoration_o ...
*
Marju Lauristin Marju Lauristin (born 7 April 1940) is an Estonian politician, and former Member of the European Parliament and Minister of Social Affairs. She is a member of the Social Democratic Party, part of the Party of European Socialists. Lauristin is ...
* Enn Leisson * Jüri Liim * Jaan Lippmaa * Alar Maarend *
Tiit Made Tiit Made (13 March 1940) is an Estonian politician. He was a writer of the in 1987, and he served in the VII Riigikogu and VIII Riigikogu from 1992 to 1999. Early life Tiit Made was born in Tallinn on 13 March 1940. Made attended the Tallinn ...
* Mart Madissoon * Tõnis Mets * Aavo Mölder *
Ülo Nugis Ülo Nugis (28 April 1944 – 18 November 2011) was an Estonian politician and economist. As Speaker of the Supreme Council of Estonia on 20 August 1991, he presided over the Supreme Council's historic session when it voted for the Estonian restor ...
*
Ants Paju Ants Paju (10 September 1944 – 28 June 2011) was an Estonian politician, journalist, athlete, and engineer. He was a member of VIII Riigikogu. Ants Paju was born in the village of Tamsi, Pajusi Rural Municipality, Viljandi County (now, in Põl ...
* Eldur Parder * Heldur Peterson * Andrei Prii * Priidu Priks * Jüri E. Põld *
Enn Põldroos Enn is an Estonian language, Estonian masculine given name, a form of Henry (given name), Henry and may refer to: *Enn Eesmaa (born 1946). Estonian journalist and politician *Enn Griffel (1935–2007), Estonian auto racing driver *Enn Kasak ( ...
* Koit Raud * Jüri Reinson * Andrus Ristkok * Jüri Rätsep *
Arnold Rüütel Arnold Rüütel (, 10 May 1928 – 31 December 2024) was an Estonian politician. He was the third President of Estonia from 8 October 2001 to 9 October 2006. Rüütel was the second president of the country after the end of the 1944–1991 Sovie ...
*
Tõnu Saarman Tõnu is an Estonian language, Estonian masculine given name, a version of Anthony (given name), Anthony. People named Tõnu include: *Tõnu Aare (1953–2021), musician *Tõnu Aav (1939–2019), actor *Tõnu Anton (born 1953), politician and ju ...
*
Edgar Savisaar Edgar Savisaar (31 May 1950 – 29 December 2022) was an Estonian politician, one of the founding members of Popular Front of Estonia and the Estonian Centre Party, Centre Party. He served as the Prime Minister of Estonia, acting Prime Minister ...
* Hanno Schotter *
Lehte Sööt Lehte Hainsalu (married name Lehte Sööt; born 31 October 1938, Haaslava Parish, Tartu County) is an Estonian writer, poet and politician. In 1961 she graduated from University of Tartu, Tartu State University, having studied Estonian philology ...
* Aldo Tamm * Rein Tamme * Andres Tarand *
Indrek Toome Indrek Toome (19 September 1943 – 28 February 2023) was an Estonian politician and entrepreneur. As a top level communist party official, he held several important positions in the leadership of the Estonian SSR. Becoming the chairman of th ...
* Enn Tupp * Ain Tähiste * Uno Ugandi *
Ülo Uluots Ülo Uluots (4 February 1930 Jõhvi – 18 July 1997 Tallinn) was an Estonian politician, mining engineer and military historian. From April 1992 until October 1992, Uluots was the first Estonian Minister of Defence since Estonia's regaining indep ...
* Heinrich Valk * Ants Veetõusme *
Rein Veidemann Rein Veidemann (born 17 October 1946, in Pärnu) is an Estonian literary scholar and politician. He was a member of VII Riigikogu. Awards and recognitions *2009: Aino Kallas Award The Aino Kallas Award (, also the Aino Kallas Translation Awar ...
* Helgi Viirelaid *
Vaino Väljas Vaino Väljas (28 March 1931 – 16 January 2024) was a Soviet and Estonian diplomat and politician. Väljas was leader of the Communist party in Soviet Estonia in 1988–1991, and the leader of Democratic Estonian Workers Party in 1992–199 ...


21 August 1991

On the morning of 21 August 1991, Soviet paratroopers were taking charge of the Tallinn's TV tower, while the television broadcast was cut off for a while, the radio signal was strong as a handful of Estonian Defence League (the unified paramilitary armed forces of Estonia) members barricaded the entry into signal rooms. By the afternoon of the same day it was clear that the coup in Moscow had failed and the paratroopers released the tower and left Estonia.


20 August Club

In 1994, the 20 August Club was established. The club's members are those politicians who voted in favour of the restoration on 20 August 1991.


See also

*
On the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia The Declaration "On the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia"Latvian SSR The Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (Also known as the Latvian SSR, or Latvia) was a Republics of the Soviet Union, constituent republic of the Soviet Union from 1940 to 1941, and then from 1944 until 1990. The Soviet occupation of the Bal ...
*
Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania The Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania or Act of 11 March () was an Declaration of independence, independence declaration by Lithuania adopted on 11 March 1990, signed by all members of the Supreme Council – Reconstituent Se ...
– A similar Act in the
Lithuanian SSR The Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic (Lithuanian SSR; ; ), also known as Soviet Lithuania or simply Lithuania, was '' de facto'' one of the constituent republics of the Soviet Union between 1940–1941 and 1944–1990. After 1946, its terr ...
*
State continuity of the Baltic states The three Baltic countries, or the Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania – are held to have continued as independent states under international law#Ziemele2005, Ziemele (2005). p118. while under Soviet Union, Soviet Occupation of the ...
*
Dissolution of the Soviet Union The Soviet Union was formally dissolved as a sovereign state and subject of international law on 26 December 1991 by Declaration No. 142-N of the Soviet of the Republics of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union. Declaration No. 142-Н of ...


References

{{Independence declarations from USSR Dissolution of the Soviet Union Law of Estonia Declarations of independence 1991 in Estonia Singing Revolution 1991 in the Soviet Union August 1991 in the Soviet Union 1991 documents Restoration of the independence of the Baltic states