Baltic States Reject Referendum

Council of the Baltic States, Statement on the Resolution of the USSR Supreme Soviet On the Results of the USSR Referendum of March 17, 1991. April 13, 1991

Original Source: Fax from Info Office of the Republic of Latvia

The Resolution of the USSR Supreme Soviet of March 21, 1991 “On the Results of the USSR Referendum of March 17, 1991” poses a possibility for certain interpretations, i.e. that this resolution also relates to the Baltic States (the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania).

To this effect the Baltic States, which do not constitute a part of the USSR, declare that the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania are on a course, set in 1990 by their democratically – elected Supreme Councils with the adoption of the acts re-establishing their independence, as well as by their nations through the referendums and plebiscites held in these Republics on February 9 and March 3, 1991 respectively.

The March 17, 1991 Referendum of the USSR has no legal effect upon the Baltic States and can in no way justify the use of pressure or force against Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania by the USSR authorities.

Jurmala, April 13, 1991

A. Retel
Supreme Council, Republic of Estonia,

A. Gorbunovs
Supreme Council, Republic of Latvia

V. Landsbergis
Supreme Council, Republic of Lithuania

Source: Ansis Reinhards, Lettonie – Russie: Traites et documents in base, 2000.

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