Russian Official's Bombshell Claim: USSR Still Legally Exists

Russian Official Claims USSR Legally Exists, Raising International Eyebrows St. Petersburg, Russia – In a surprising statement delivered at the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum, Anton Kobyakov, an advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin, asserted that the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) continues to exist in a certain legal capacity. This claim, made on May 22, 2025, has sparked considerable debate and scrutiny among legal experts and international observers. Kobyakov's central argument hinges on the alleged procedural flaws in the USSR's dissolution. He argues that since the Congress of Soviets established the USSR in 1922, its dissolution should have followed the same legal process, a process he claims was not followed. "The Belavezha Accords of December 8, 1991, appear completely incomprehensible from a legal standpoint," Kobyakov stated. He further contends that the subsequent ratification by the Supreme Soviets of the RSFSR, USSR, and BSSR lacked the necessary legal authority. The implications of Kobyakov's assertion are significant, particularly regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. He suggests that if the USSR's dissolution is legally invalid, then the Ukrainian crisis could be viewed as an internal matter within the framework of a legally extant USSR. This interpretation, if accepted, would fundamentally alter the international legal context of the conflict. While Kobyakov's statement has generated significant discussion, it has also been met with skepticism from many legal experts who point to the widely recognized international consensus on the USSR's demise. The international community largely considers the Belavezha Accords as the definitive end of the USSR, and the subsequent recognition of independent states that emerged from the former Soviet Union solidifies this view. The long-term consequences of Kobyakov's statement and its implications for international law remain to be seen.