1993 Russian constitutional crisis

1993 Russian constitutional crisis or "October Coup"
Part of the post-Soviet conflicts
The White House in October 1993, soon after the assault of government troops supported by tanks
Date 21 September – 4 October 1993 (1 week and 6 days) Location Moscow, Russia Result Victory of pro-Yeltsin forces: Presidential rule by decree imposed New constitution adopted Supreme Soviet, Congress of People's Deputies, regional and local Soviets disbanded Creation of the Federal Assembly New parliamentary election held End of the Soviet system of government in Russia
Belligerents
Presidential forces: Main Administration of Protection Ministry of the Interior Ministry of Defence Kantemir Division Taman Division Pro-Yeltsin demonstrators and organizations Federalists and anti-communists	Parliamentary forces: Congress of People's Deputies Supreme Soviet Anti-Yeltsin opposition: National Salvation Front National Unity Labour Russia Other opposition forces[note 1]
Diplomatic support: [1][2]  Poland  Czech Republic  Romania  Slovakia  Hungary  Bulgaria  Estonia  Latvia  Lithuania  Moldova  Belarus  Ukraine  Georgia  Armenia  Azerbaijan  Kazakhstan  Kyrgyzstan  Uzbekistan  Tajikistan  Canada  Germany  Italy  Japan  South Korea  United Kingdom  United States  NATO  European Economic Community	Support:  Transnistria[a][3]
Commanders and leaders
Boris Yeltsin Viktor Chernomyrdin Yegor Gaidar Pavel Grachev Viktor Yerin Nikolai Golushko Anatoly Kulikov Alexander Korzhakov	Alexander Rutskoy[1] Ruslan Khasbulatov Vladislav Achalov Andrey Dunayev Viktor Barannikov Sergey Baburin Albert Makashov Alexander Barkashov Viktor Anpilov
Political support
Liberals Federalists Anti-communists CIS	Communists Nationalists Monarchists Russian National Unity National-bolsheviks
Casualties and losses
147 killed, 437 wounded (official assessment of the Prosecutor-General of Russia)
^ Became Acting President of Russia after the impeachment of Yeltsin, in accordance with the Constitution.

This article is part of a series about Boris Yeltsin
Early life Presidency Yeltsinism CPSU membership 26th 27th Politburo 26th 27th Central Committee 28th Congress Elections 1991 campaign 1996 campaign (Vote or lose) Loans for shares Semibankirschina Soskovets campaign strategy Xerox affair First term 1st inauguration Gaidar Cabinet August Coup 1st Chernomyrdin Cabinet Constitutional conference 1993 crisis 1st Chechen War International trips ("Circling over Shannon" diplomatic incident) Second term 2nd inauguration Ruble crisis 2nd Chechen War Resignation International trips Post-Presidency Presidential Center Presidential Library Illness Death and state funeral Media gallery
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In September and October 1993, a constitutional crisis arose in the Russian Federation from a conflict between the then Russian president Boris Yeltsin and the country's parliament. Yeltsin performed a self-coup, dissolving parliament and instituting a presidential rule by decree system. The crisis ended with Yeltsin using military force to attack Moscow's House of Soviets and arrest the lawmakers. In Russia, the events are known as the "October Coup" (Russian: Октябрьский путч, romanized: Oktyabr'skiy putch) or "Black October" (Russian: Чëрный октябрь, romanized: Chornyi Oktyabr').

Yeltsin assumed the presidency of the Russian Federation following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991; the Soviet-era 1978 Russian constitution remained in effect. Yeltsin began assuming increasing powers, leading to a political standoff with Russia's parliament, which in 1993 was composed of the Congress of People's Deputies and the Supreme Soviet. After holding a four-part referendum in April on support for his leadership and socio-economical policies, as well as on support for early elections, Yeltsin called for parliamentary elections and dissolved the legislature on 21 September in a move not authorized by the constitution, nor approved by the referendum.

On 23 September, the parliament (led by Supreme Soviet Chairman Ruslan Khasbulatov) impeached Yeltsin, proclaimed vice president Alexander Rutskoy the acting president, and barricaded itself in the White House building. Ten days of street fighting commenced between police and demonstrators loyal to Yeltsin and the parliamentarians. On 3 October, demonstrators removed militia cordons around the parliament and, urged by their leaders, took over the mayor's offices and tried to storm the Ostankino television centre. On 4 October, the army, which had remained neutral, shelled the White House using tanks and stormed the building with special forces on Yeltsin's orders, arresting the surviving leaders of the resistance. All of those involved in the events were later granted amnesty by the State Duma in February 1994 and released from jail.

At the climax of the crisis, Russia was thought by some to be "on the brink" of civil war.^[4][5] The 10-day conflict became the deadliest single event of street fighting in Moscow's history since the October Revolution;^[6] 147 people were killed and 437 wounded according to the official Russian government statistics. In the wake of the events, Yeltsin consolidated his position, further expanded the powers of the executive, and pushed through the adoption of the 1993 constitution of the Russian Federation.

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