1991 Turkmen independence referendum
| ||
Do you agree with the legislative establishment of Turkmenistan as an independent democratic state? | ||
---|---|---|
Do you support the statement of the President and Supreme Soviet of the Turkmenistan Soviet Socialist Republic "On the domestic and foreign policy of Turkmenistan" and the practical activity to implement it? | ||
|
An independence referendum was held in the Turkmen SSR on 26 October 1991.
Background
The policies of demokratizatsiya and perestroika as enacted by Mikhail Gorbachev led to the gradual loss of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's iron grip over its constituent federal republics. Nationalistic sentiments were on the rise—often fomenting in widescale protests—across late 1980s, leading to the parade of sovereignties.
In Turkmenistan, the national conservative Agzybirlik (Unification) took up the cause of independence and gained a significant base among native Turkmens. Saparmurat Niyazov—then Secretary of the Supreme Soviet—had the party banned for anti-Soviet activities, and suppressed dissent. However, in what the first multi-party election to the Supreme Soviet (1990), multiple independent candidates won and propagated nationalist sentiments.
Despite this, in the
Questions
Voters were asked two questions:[1]
- Do you agree with the legislative establishment of Turkmenistan as an independent democratic state?
- Do you support the statement of the President and Supreme Soviet of the Turkmenistan Soviet Socialist Republic "On the domestic and foreign policy of Turkmenistan" and the practical activity to implement it?
Results
Independence
Choice | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|
For | 1,707,725 | 94.07 | |
Against | 107,693 | 5.93 | |
Total | 1,815,418 | 100.00 | |
Registered voters/turnout | 1,864,142 | – | |
Source: Direct Democracy |
Niyazovism
Choice | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|
For | 93.5 | ||
Against | 6.5 | ||
Total | |||
Registered voters/turnout | 1,864,142 | – | |
Source: Direct Democracy |
References
- ISBN 978-0-19-924958-9.