President of the Soviet Union

President of the Soviet Union
Former political post
State Emblem
Mikhail Gorbachev
Predecessor General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
Successor President of the Russian Federation

Presidents of other Post-Soviet states
First officeholder Mikhail Gorbachev
Last officeholder Mikhail Gorbachev
Official residence Moscow Kremlin
Appointer People of the Soviet Union[1]

Congress of People's Deputies of the Soviet Union[2]
Political office started 15 March 1990
Political office ended 25 December 1991 upon the resignation of President Mikhail Gorbachev
Current pretender Position abolished
Soviet Union

This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
the Soviet Union

Atlas
 USSR Portal

The President of the Soviet Union (Russian: Президент Советского Союза), officially called President of the USSR (Russian: Президент СССР[1]) was the Head of State of the USSR from 15 March 1990 to 25 December 1991. Mikhail Gorbachev was the only person to occupy the office. Gorbachev was also General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union between March 1985 and August 1991. He derived an increasingly greater share of his power from his position as president until he finally resigned as General Secretary after the Soviet coup d'état attempt of 1991.

From the mid-1970s on, all effective executive political power was in the hands of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, with the Chairman exercising largely symbolic and figurehead duties. Starting with Leonid Brezhnev in 1977, the last four General Secretaries simultaneously served as Chairmen of the Supreme Soviet during their time in office.

During the election of the president several candidates were nominated, among leading contenders were KGB persona Vadim Bakatin and Premier Nikolai Ryzhkov.

The Vice President of the Soviet Union was Gennady Yanayev, who briefly usurped Gorbachev as president in the 1991 attempted coup as leader of the State Committee of the State of Emergency.

Presidents of the Soviet Union

See also

References

  1. ^ a b 1977 Soviet Constitution with amendments of 1989—1990. Chapter 15.1: President of the Soviet Union
  2. ^ Soviet Law from 14 March 1990 N 1360-I "On establishment of the Presidency of the Soviet Union and amendments and additions to the Constitution (Basic Law) of the Soviet Union". Article III
Heads of state
Kalinin (1922–1946) · Shvernik (1946–1953) · Voroshilov (1953–1960) · Brezhnev (1960–1964) · Mikoyan (1964–1965) · Podgorny (1965–1977) · Brezhnev (1977–1982) · Andropov (1982–1984) · Chernenko (1984–1985) · Gromyko (1985–1988) · Gorbachev (1988–1991)
Vice heads of state
Kuznetsov (1977–1986) · Demichev (1986–1988) · Lukyanov (1988–1990) · Yanayev (1990–1991)
Acting heads of state
Kuznetsov (1982–1985) · Yanayev (usurper, 1991)
Presidents of Russian SFSR · Presidents of Russia