Chemical Weapons
Russia promises to eliminate stockpiles of chemical weapons
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1989 in Russia
Explore 64 historical events and records for Russia in 1989.
Historical records for Russia in 1989
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 64 unique records.
64Unique records
1 of 2Page
29Named events on this page
7Named people on this page
9Places on this page
January
Russia promises to eliminate stockpiles of chemical weapons
Russia promises to eliminate stockpiles of chemical weapons
February
Invasion of Afghanistan
Russia announces that all but a small rear-guard contingent of its troops had left Afghanistan
Invasion of Afghanistan
The last Russian troops withdraw from Afghanistan. Russian withdrawal signifies a Mujahadin victory. 14,454 Russians had died in the conflict
Demonstrations
Disorders in in Nagorno-Karabakh, ethnic conflicts
March
Rebellion of Rebels in Tashkent
A demonstration of 10,000 in Tashkent wish to make Uzbek their state language
Rebellion of Rebels in Tashkent
A demonstration of 10,000 in Tashkent wish to make Uzbek their state language
Moscow Electoral Landslide
Wins more than ninety percent of the vote in his Moscow district during elections to the Congress of People's Deputies.
Moscow People's Deputy Election
Wins election as a USSR People's Deputy in Moscow with overwhelming support.
Constitution of Russia
Yeltsins presence in the Supreme Soviets Chamber of Peoples Deputies provided a focus for the reformist minority, the legislature becomes a more pluralist body than Gorbachev intends. The March 1989 election of the Congress of Peoples Deputies marked the first time that voters of the Soviet Union ever chose the membership of a national legislative body
Constitution of Russia
The USSR Supreme Soviet is replaced by the USSR Congress of Peoples Deputies
Election
The March 1989 election of the Congress of Peoples Deputies marked the first time that voters of the Soviet Union ever chose the membership of a national legislative body. Fails to support Yeltsin against the conservatives, leads to Gorbachevs downfall. Elections for the Congress of Peoples Deputies, 80% of candidates are CPSU members. Communist Party members have to stand in elections for the 1st time ever
Election
Elected Member of Congress of Peoples Deputies
Election
Elected Member of Congress of Peoples Deputies
Perestroika
The March 1989 election of the Congress of Peoples Deputies marked the first time that voters of the Soviet Union ever chose the membership of a national legislative body
April
Rebellion of Rebels in Tiblisi
A Nationalist demonstration is suppressed by army intervention
Rebellion of Rebels in Tiblisi
A Nationalist demonstration is suppressed by army intervention
Central Committee
Appointed Member of Central Committee
May
USSR Supreme Soviet Seat
Takes a seat in the USSR Supreme Soviet after a deputy yields a place to him.
Constitution of Russia
The initial session of the Congress of Peoples Deputies. Gorbachev was elected without opposition to the chairmanship of the new Supreme Soviet; then the Congress of Peoples Deputies elected a large majority of old-style party apparatchiks to fill the membership of its new legislative body
Entry into Supreme Soviet
Enters the USSR Supreme Soviet and uses the legislature as a platform for opposition politics.
Perestroika
The initial session of the Congress of Peoples Deputies
June
Speaker
Appointed Speaker of the Soviet of the Union
July
Co-Chair of Interregional Deputies Group
Becomes a co-chair of the Interregional Deputies Group, the first organized parliamentary opposition in the late Soviet period.
Constitution of Russia
In the summer of 1989, the first opposition bloc in the Congress of Peoples Deputies formed under the name of the Interregional Group
Interregional Deputies Group Leadership
Becomes a leading figure in the opposition Interregional Deputies Group in the Congress of People's Deputies.
Interregional Group
In the summer of 1989, the first opposition bloc in the Congress of Peoples Deputies formed under the name of the Interregional Group
Perestroika
In the summer of 1989, the first opposition bloc in the Congress of Peoples Deputies formed under the name of the Interregional Group
Strike
Miners go on strike
August
Rebellion of Rebels in Tallin
Popular Fronts form a chain from Vilnius to Tallin, day of the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact
Rebellion of Rebels in Tallin
The day of the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact. Popular Fronts form a human chain from Vilnius to Tallin
September
Soyuz TM-8 Launch
Launches with Aleksandr Serebrov to resume long-duration Mir operations after the station's temporary uncrewed interval.
Manual Soyuz TM-8 Docking
Completes a manual docking with Mir after an automatic Kurs rendezvous problem interrupts the spacecraft's final approach.
Politburo
Appointed Candidate Member of Politburo
November
Berlin Wall
The Berlin wall falls & demonstrations of German unity are held in the DDR
Unification
The Berlin wall falls & demonstrations of German unity are held in the DDR
Independence of Lithuania
1st national movement, Sajudis, is formed in Lithuania
Independence of Russia
1st national movement, Sajudis, is formed in Lithuania
Visit to Vatican
The 1st Soviet leader to visit the Vatican
December
Kvant-2 Module Docking
Supports station operations as Kvant-2 docks with Mir, adding an airlock, life-support equipment and expanded scientific facilities.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.