Декларация "О суверенитете Эстонской ССР" и фронт республик Балтии против Кремля

ENPerestroika created new ideological environment and the Baltic Republics started evolution towards the prime candidates for early exit. The year 1988 was the turning point in the process of institutional reforms. But according to Soviet tradition of declarative law, there was never designed in legal terms any procedure for applying this declaratively worded right for secession. Self-determination of republic was never expected to be practically exercised by any of the administrative subjects. These antagonisms led to creating of the People's Fronts in the Baltic Republics and also determined deep crisis of power in November 1988. Estonia became a leader in this movement. "The Estonian Sovereignty Declaration" issued by the Estonian Supreme Soviet is perceived by historians as one of the turning points in the Perestroika process. Idea of sovereignty which got expression in "Declaration" was step by step caught in further years by almost all main subjects (republics) of the USSR. Activity against antidemocratic policy of the Kremlin was the first attempt of the open cooperation of the Baltic peoples. Still the forming of the united Baltic Front failed. The reasons for this failure were objective. There were significant differences in political maturity of the people of three Baltic Republics. However the initiative of the joint activity was very important. In 1988 Baltic peoples did not have any possibility to get sovereignty. But the resolution of the People's Fronts shows that they saw their right to secession as the real future.