Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic

Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR

Вярхоўны Савет Беларускай ССР
(Belarusian)
Верховный Совет Белорусской ССР
(Russian)
Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic Byelorussian SSR (1938-1941, 1947-1991)
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
History
Established1938
1947 (re-establishment)
Disbanded1941 (Nazi occupation)
1991
Preceded byAll-Byelorussian Central Executive Committee and
All-Byelorussian Congress of Soviets
Succeeded bySupreme Soviet of Belarus
Leadership
Chairman
Chairman of the Presidium
Elections
Last election
1990
Meeting place
Supreme Soviet Building, Minsk, Byelorussian SSR, Soviet Union

The Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR (Belarusian: Вярхоўны Савет Беларускай ССР, Vyarkhowny Savyet Byelaruskay SSR; Russian: Верховный Совет Белорусской ССР tr. Verkhovnyy Sovet Belorusskoy SSR) was the supreme soviet (main legislative institution) and the highest organ of state power of Belarus (Byelorussia), then known as the Byelorussian SSR from 1938 to 1991. It was the only branch of government in the republic, and per the principle of unified power, all state organs are subservient to it. The Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR was preceded by the All-Byelorussian Central Executive Committee (1920-1938) and the All-Byelorussian Congress of Soviets (1919-1937). The Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR was briefly disbanded in 1941 due to the Great Patriotic War and was re-established in 1947. The Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR was briefly succeeded by the Supreme Soviet of Belarus from 1991 to 1996. The Supreme Soviet of Belarus was succeeded by the National Assembly of Belarus in 1996.[2]

Until Gorbachev's democratization program, the Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR was a rubber stamp like all other supreme soviets of the union republics of the Soviet Union, existing only to provide legal sanction for policies already implemented by the Communist Party of Byelorussia. The 1990 Belarusian Supreme Soviet election was the only supreme soviet election where opposition parties were able to run.[3]

History

[edit]

The Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR was established pursuant to the Constitution of the Byelorussian SSR from 1937, which changed the organization of main political organs of the republic. In theory, the Supreme Soviet was to be a legislative body that exercised power over the legislative branch of the Byelorussian SSR. In reality, the Supreme Soviet's power was limited to approving the decisions of the Communist Party of Byelorussia.

Supreme Soviet elections were held in 1938, 1947, 1951, 1955, 1959, 1963, 1967, 1971, 1975, 1980, 1985, and 1990. In 1990, 360 deputies were elected.

Chairmen of the Supreme Soviet

[edit]

The Chairman of the Supreme Soviet was speaker of the legislative assembly. With the disbandment of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR in May 1990, the powers of the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet were transferred to the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet. This changed the role and powers of the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet from 1990 and onwards. The office-holders remained speakers of the assembly and additionally became the de jure heads of state.

No. Picture Name

(Birth–Death)

Took office Left office Political party
Chairmen of the Supreme Soviet
1 Nadezhda Grekova

(1910-2001)

25 July 1938 12 March 1947 CPSU
2 Vasily Kozlov

(1903-1967)

12 March 1947 17 March 1948 CPSU
3 Eugene Bugaev

(1912-1997)

17 March 1948 14 April 1949 CPSU
4 Joseph Belsky

(1903-1966)

14 April 1949 28 March 1955 CPSU
5 Timofey Garbunov

(1904-1969)

28 March 1955 28 March 1963 CPSU
6 Vasily Shavura

(1912-2007)

28 March 1963 22 December 1965 CPSU
7 Maksim Tank

(1912-1995)

22 December 1965 15 July 1971 CPSU
8 Ivan Shamiakin

(1921-2004)

15 July 1971 28 March 1985 CPSU
9 Ivan Navumenko

(1925-2006)

28 March 1985 15 May 1990 CPSU
10 Mikalay Dzyemyantsyey

(1930-2018)

19 May 1990 25 August 1991 CPSU
11 Stanislav Shushkevich

(1934-2022)

25 August 1991 18 September 1991 CPSU

Chairmen of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet

[edit]

The Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet was the de jure head of state of the Byelorussian SSR. With the disbandment of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR in May 1990, the powers of the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet were transferred to the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet. This changed the role and powers of the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet from 1990 and onwards.

No. Picture Name

(Birth–Death)

Took office Left office Political party
Chairmen of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet
1 Nichipar Natalevich

(1900-1964)

27 July 1938 17 March 1948 CPSU
2 Vasily Kozlov

(1903-1967)

17 March 1948 2 December 1967 CPSU
Fedor Surganov

(1911-1976)

2 December 1967 22 January 1968 CPSU
Valentina Klochkova

(1924-?)

2 December 1967 22 January 1968 CPSU
3 Siarhei Prytytski

(1913-1971)

22 January 1968 13 June 1971 CPSU
Fedor Surganov

(1911-1976)

13 June 1971 16 July 1971 CPSU
Ivan Klimov

(1903-1991)

13 June 1971 16 July 1971 CPSU
Valentina Klochkova

(1924-?)

13 June 1971 16 July 1971 CPSU
4 Fedor Surganov

(1911-1976)

16 July 1971 26 December 1976 CPSU
Vladimir Labanok

(1907-1984)

27 December 1976 28 February 1977 CPSU
Zinaida Bychkovskaya

(born 1941)

27 December 1976 28 February 1977 CPSU
5 Ivan Polyakov

(1914-2004)

28 February 1977 29 November 1985 CPSU
6 Georgy Tarazevich

(1937-2003)

29 November 1985 28 July 1989 CPSU
7 Mikalay Dzyemyantsyey

(1930-2018)

28 July 1989 15 May 1990 CPSU

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Toy parliament until May 1990
  2. ^ Спаткай, Леанід (2018-01-30). Нацыянальныя і дзяржаўныя сімвалы Беларусі (in Russian). Litres. ISBN 978-5-04-025457-6.
  3. ^ "Итоги выборов народных депутатов Белорусской ССР 1990 года". naviny.by. 1990-03-04. Retrieved 2020-05-20.