# Russian declaration of sovereignty (1990)

URL: https://history-russia.com/timeline/1990-russian-declaration-of-sovereignty
Categories: main-event

Boris Yeltsin was elected Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian SFSR on 29 May 1990. On 12 June the Congress of People's Deputies of the RSFSR declared the sovereignty of Russia, giving its laws priority over Soviet laws. Yeltsin left the Communist Party in July. 12 June became Russia Day. The declaration set Russia on a collision course with the Union centre.

## Why it matters
The declaration set Russia on a collision course with the Union centre.

Ruler at the time: [Mikhail Gorbachev](https://history-russia.com/rulers/mikhail-gorbachev)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Russian SFSR](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declaration_of_State_Sovereignty_of_the_Russian_SFSR)
- [Wikipedia — Russia Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia_Day)
- [Wikipedia — Perestroika](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perestroika)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Russian declaration of sovereignty](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Russian+declaration+of+sovereignty)
- [Wikipedia — Timeline of Russian history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Russian_history)