Private land ownership: its emergence and legislative registration in the RSFSR at the turn of 1990–1991

This article examines the fundamental transformation of land ownership in Russia. For a long time (over seven decades), land in the Soviet state could only be owned by one form - public (state), while private land ownership was categorically rejected. However, economic difficulties, which had become extremely acute by the mid-1980s, forced the USSR leadership to initiate "perestroika," which included the discussion of the land issue. The article presents the positions of various government officials and organizations on this matter. At the Union level, the previous Soviet model prevailed, while at the RSFSR level, a decidedly liberal model, allowing for private ownership of land, prevailed. At the turn of 1990-1991, that is, at the very end of perestroika, the situation was finally resolved, and, while still formally within the USSR, corresponding Russian land laws were adopted, confirming the transition of the Russian economy to market relations.