Today in History: Signing of the Commonwealth of Independent States

On December 8th, 1991, Russian President Boris Yelstin met with the President of Ukraine, Leonid Kravchuck, and National Leader of Belarus (Belorussia), Stanislav Shushkevich, to sign a document to form a new association, the Commonwealth of Independent States, replacing the former U.S.S.R. (United Soviet Socialist Republic). With the collapse of the Soviet Union came the movement for free markets and private enterprise; the termination of government price subsidies and jurisdiction over consumer goods and food; and new parliamentary elections, despite ongoing control by heads of state. Membership to the Commonwealth entailed free association of soverign states, eleven former Soviet republics that included:  Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan,  Uzbekistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova.  While policies for economies, foreign relations, defense, immigration policies, environmental protection, and law enforcement were coordinated among member states, a single unified military and privatization of markets proved more challenging and led to conflict and withdrawals from the Commonwealth by Georgia, in 2009, and Ukraine, in 2018.

The following articles are drawn from Proquest Historical Newspapers, which informs and inspires classroom teaching and learning.

• Bugajski, J. (1991, Jun 17). As Soviet Power Decentralizes West Must Deal with Republics. The Christian Science Monitor (1908-) 
• Brezezinski, Z. (1991, Nov 10). Conflicted On Europe: What's Our Policy on the Ukraine and the European Community? New York Times (1923-) 
• Williams, S. (1991, Sep 18). Poor Fare At the Kremlin. The Guardian (1959-2003) 
• Paul Quinn-Judge, G. S. (1991, Dec 08). Yeltsin Sees 'Commonwealth' Replacing Union. Boston Globe (1960-) 
• Millinship, W. (1991, Dec 08). All Queue For Battle of Moscow 1992: Moscow. The Observer (1901- 2003) 
• Alison Mitchell, M. C. (1991, Dec 09). USSR Declared Dead: Russia, Ukraine, Byelorussia Form Commonwealth. Newsday (1940-) 
• Alison Mitchell, M. C. (1991, Dec 09). Soviet Collapse: USSR Declared Dead: Russia, Ukraine, Byelorussia Form Commonwealth. Newsday (1940-) 
• Paul Quinn-Judge, G. S. (1991, Dec 09). 3 Republics Unite, Call USSR Dead: Russia, Ukraine, Belorussia Form Commonwealth, Deal a Blow to Gorbachev. Boston Globe (1960-) 
• Mycio, M. (1991, Dec 12). Ukraine Hasn't Rejoined the USSR: In Going Into the New Commonwealth, It's Only Buying Time. Newsday (1940-) 
• Elizabeth Neuffer, G. S. (1991, Dec 18). USSR Will Be Replaced By Jan. 1: Yeltsin Says Gorbachev Accepts Outcome. Boston Globe (1960-) 

Tips:

• Goncalves, Marcus, and Erika Cornelius Smith. Commonwealth of Independent States Economies : Perspectives and Challenges. New York, New York: Business Expert Press, 2017. e-book
• Melville, Andrew, and Tatiana Shakleina. Russian Foreign Policy in Transition Concepts and Realities. 1st ed. New York: CEU Press, 2005. e-book

Images:

•  Old Russian Architecture, by Kolgan Yuri, from the Ziegfeld Collection of Internatioanl Children's Art, Courtesy of Teachers College, Columbia University
• Special News Slide, Courtesy of the Gottesman Libraries

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