Did the Soviet Union Ever Truly Dissolve? Kremlin's Claim Sparks Legal Debate

The Kremlin's Unexpected Claim: Did the Soviet Union's Dissolution Violate its Own Laws? The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has taken a surprising turn with the Kremlin's recent assertion that the Soviet Union still legally exists. This claim stems from a procedural argument: the USSR's creation was announced by the Congress of People's Deputies in 1922, yet its dissolution was not. Anton Kobyakov, an advisor to Putin, stated, "If the legal procedure was violated, then legally, the USSR exists." This assertion centers on the Belavezha Accords, signed on December 8, 1991, by the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, without the participation of then-President Gorbachev. While the accords declared the USSR's dissolution, they were not ratified by the Congress of People's Deputies. Constitutional law experts are now debating the legality of the dissolution, adding another layer of complexity to the already tense geopolitical situation. The Kremlin's claim, while provocative, highlights a potential legal loophole and underscores the enduring legacy of the Soviet Union's collapse.