The article deals with the constitutional and legal status of autonomy in the unitary states of the Commonwealth of Independent States, their historical, political and ethnic foundations. The authors thoroughly described the history and features of the development of autonomy in the Soviet federation, which continued to operate in the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States under new legal conditions. The constitutional development of autonomies, formation of their supreme authorities, and regulation of the relationships among unitary republics and autonomies have been analyzed. Particular attention has been paid to the autonomies that declared independence and became unrecognized states. The constitutions of the states of the Commonwealth of Independent States, constitutional legislation forming grounds for the legal status of autonomy in the unitary states of the Commonwealth of Independent States served as the normative framework of the study. The historical and legal method of scientific knowledge was the methodological basis of the study, as well as the methods of logical deduction, induction, cognitive methods and methods of analysis, synthesis and description. The findings of the study determined the characteristic features of the development of autonomies in the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States. The existing problems in relations between the unitary republics and autonomies have also been identified as well as the factors behind these problems. The authors gave reasons for the conclusion that the autonomies established within the framework of the Soviet federal state gained new legal status in the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States. Autonomy citizens’ strive for independence was primarily due to the historical and ethnic factors. At the same time, the central authorities, the ruling circles suppressed any movement to realize the right of peoples to self-determination by any means, including the military ones.

Tsykunov Grigory Aleksandrovich, Doctor of Sciences (History), Professor, Department of State and Legal Disciplines, Institute of State and Law, Baikal State University, 11, Lenin st., 664003, Irkutsk, Russian Federation, e-mail: tsykunovga@gmail.com 

Demeshko Igor Vladimirovich, Adviser, Department of State Law and Local Governance, Chief Legal Office of Governor of the Irkutsk Region and Irkutsk Region Government, 1, Lenin st., 664027, Irkutsk, Russian Federation, e-mail: 2demig@gmail.com

Tsykunov G.A., Demeshko I.V. Autonomy in the CIS Countries: Soviet Past and Modernity. The Bulletin of Irkutsk State University. Series Political Science and Religion Studies, 2020, vol. 32, pp. 81-89. https://doi.org/10.26516/2073-3380.2020.32.81 (in Russian)

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