Russian Federation
The constitutional state established in 1993 that governs Russia as a federation of republics and other federal subjects.
Constitution of Russia: The supreme law of Russia, adopted by referendum in 1993 and amended since. It establishes the federation’s institutions, powers, and formal relationship between federal and regional authorities.
Dissolution of the Soviet Union: The 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union into independent states. The Russian Federation became the principal successor state after the Soviet Union ended.
Russian constitutional law: The body of law governing Russia’s constitutional order, institutions, rights, and division of public authority. It defines the legal rules through which federal institutions and regional authorities are meant to operate.
Chechen wars: Two conflicts between Russian federal forces and separatist authorities in Chechnya, principally from 1994 to 2009. They tested the federation’s territorial integrity and the center’s authority over a republic.
Federal subjects of Russia: The constituent territorial units of Russia, including republics, oblasts, krais, and cities of federal importance. They are the federation’s constituent units, with different constitutional statuses.
Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic: The largest constituent republic of the Soviet Union, which became the independent Russian state in 1991. The federation inherited the territory and many institutions of this Soviet republic.
Asymmetric federalism: A federal arrangement in which constituent units possess different powers or constitutional statuses. Russian republics and other federal subjects have distinct legal statuses within one federation.
Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation: Russia’s 2014 incorporation of Crimea, internationally rejected as an illegal annexation by Ukraine and most states. It transformed the federation’s claimed territory and prompted major international sanctions.
Federal Assembly of Russia: Russia’s national legislature, consisting of the Federation Council and the State Duma. Its two chambers represent regions and voters within the federal legislative system.
Belavezha Accords: The December 1991 agreement by leaders of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus declaring the Soviet Union ended. The accords formalized the Soviet Union’s dissolution and Russia’s emergence as an independent state.