Revisiting the formation of the Republic of Khakasia

The article analyzes the process of formation of the Republic of Khakassia in the post-Soviet period in the focus of conducting election campaigns and drafting the Constitution of the Republic of Khakassia. The objectives of the study are to identify background of formation of the national territorial subdivision from the historical perspective; to determine the trajectory of election campaigns and the stages of drafting the Constitution in the region. The object of the study is the process of formation of national entities in the country. The article discusses the history of formation of the Republic of Khakassia in the initial period. Our main contribution to the study is the coverage of the activities of election campaigns, the stages of drafting the Constitution of the Republic of Khakassia. The empirical base of the study is represented by legislative documents. We focus on the activities of the election commission, the establishment of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Khakassia, present a detailed analysis of the events of the 1990s. It is noted that the Congress of the Khakass people held on August 10-11, 1990, where the “Declaration of the Congress of the Khakass people on the state sovereignty of Khakassia” was adopted, played an important role in determining the status of Khakassia. As a result of the study we have come to the following conclusions: 1. There were four stages in the formation of the national territorial subdivision of Khakassia, the interval between which was narrowed in the Soviet period (1923/1925/1930) and expanded until the period of formation of the republic (1991). 2. The national intelligentsia and representatives of the legislative branch played a significant role in the development of the region during its formation. Election campaigns involved the elections of people's deputies, the chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Khakassia, the approval of the declaration on the fundamental rights, powers and obligations of the Republic of Khakassia as part of the Russian Federation, the state emblem. 3. The adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of Khakassia had four stages, further legislative activity was associated with the adoption of legal acts on the territorial structure, tax, budget, land and property foundations of society.