Scenes of daily life at the central bazaar in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, c. 1960s, by Yuri Diadiachenko (source)

Since the dissolution of the USSR was mentioned is it not true that many SSRs preferred to retain the USSR? Wasn’t it Russian nationalism more than the periphery which caused the breakup (the Baltic states being notable for being obvious exceptions since they declared independence swiftly IIRC); could a democratic version of the USSR have survived?

It wasn't just Russian nationalism. Ethnic riots broke out in Dushanbe between nationalist Tajiks and ethnic Armenians who had fled to Tajikistan fleeing the Sumgait pogrom. SImilar outbreaks happened in Osh between Kyrgyz nationalists and Uzbeks around the same time. Low-level ethnic riots had frequently been seen in a variety of the SSR's, often in response to the appointment of ethnic Russian officials such as Gennady Kolbun, whose 1986 appointment as Kazakh general secretary rankled the populace there.

Much of the SSR's did vote in favor of the referendum, which asked the question: "do you consider it necessary to preserve the USSR as a renewed federation of equal sovereign republics, which will be fully ensured of human rights and freedoms of any nationality?" The reasons they voted yes vary wildly, including long-term patriotic education, fear of renewed ethnic conflict if the Soviet Union would disintegrate, bureaucratic inertia, dependence on imports from other regions of the Soviet Union for raw materials or finished goods that couldn't or weren't produced domestically, apprehension that such a large shift would create upheaval, and sincere belief that the Soviet Union could live up to that promise of a federation of equal sovereign republics. Many of the population of the SSR's sincerely believed in the promise and premise of the Soviet Union, Soviet communism, and international proletariatism, and believe that a decentralized version of the Soviet Union could have emerged, if we take their speeches and statements as genuine.

The August Coup changed that. When Communist hardliners seized Gorbachev, many lost faith in the Soviet ability to establish what they promised. The people took to the streets to defend the Russian Duma's White House, including Yeltsin. Ukraine, a country that had voted 71.5% on the referendum just four months prior, overwhelming passed a declaration of independence. Many of the other SSR's were supportive of their own declarations of independence in 4Q 1991. By September, Gorbachev barely had any power to influence events outside of Moscow.

Chris Miller, in his book The Struggle to Save the Soviet Economy, argues that Gorbachev could have saved the Soviet Union had he not been betrayed by the CPSU. Plenty of theorists argue that Gorbachev would have attempted to reform the Soviet Union into a decentralized multi-party democratic federative republic following a social market economy, and that could have very well preserved the Soviet Union, but the republics needed to have faith in the Union that was irreparably shattered by the August Coup. I'm less sanguine, I think the Soviet economic system couldn't have delivered a tangible increase in standard of living before the people would have lost faith in a different way. Standards of living in the Soviet Union were always lower than they were in Eastern Europe, and I think the rapid growth of the Baltic States would have caused the disintegration of the Soviet Union regardless.

Thanks for the question, Cle-Guy.

SomethingLikeALawyer, Hand of the King

Orenburg personification.(Sketch ver. + Colour.)

It's a very raw design for now, but I'll do something with it in the future. I wanted to make his hair brown, but I thought it would be boring... So he's blond. Why did I choose this region? This is my region. I don't know if this is hetalia or not, but I'll just leave it as it is.. I have so many thoughts about Valera.. I will draw a lot of works with him, I'm sure. After all... we are celebrating the 280th anniversary of the Orenburg province and the 90th anniversary of the Orenburg region.. Pretty young! But still, the history is rich. I urgently needed to make some design to put this design into practice. Next time I want to draw Valera as an astronaut! Nearby there will be sunflowers, fields and stars... and also wheat, blue, yellow and red ribbons, white doves. And of course, Orenburg shawl.. If it fits into the picture. If you want to know what his voice is like, then I think it’s like Shura’s,(Listen to the song "отшумели летние дожди") or Shatunov's.(Listen to the song "белые розы" or "седая ночь".)

As for the character... I think it's somewhat similar to Russia, but without the "dark" personality. Perhaps in some places he is similar to Veneziano or Spain. But! This is only when you have already met. When you are strangers with him, he looks quite unfriendly.. He speaks English with a Russian thicc accent, and he speaks in Russian very quickly that Russia itself does not sometimes understand him.(Often uses jargon, which is common for people from the Ural region: especially "чё?" Instead of "что?", "ну(?)" as "да" and so on.)

If you call him “Chkalov”, he may respond, because that’s what his name used to be. (USSR times) Valera also managed to be the capital of the Kyrgyz SSR.(About 5 years.) At the moment he is one of the best grain importers.

About that horse... this is Przewalski's horse, his name is "Vaska" or "Vasya". Why this? I think you should just read on Wikipedia.

When I was little, I saw such fields of sunflowers very often! I still love it.

Personifications of Soviet Socialist Republics (via GrandpaWorkshop on Etsy)

From L to R, top to bottom: Azerbaijani SSR, Georgian SSR, Estonian SSR, Turkmen SSR, Kirghiz SSR, Latvian SSR, Ukrainian SSR, Byelorussian SSR, Lithuanian SSR, Moldavian SSR, Tajik SSR, and Armenian SSR

: . “Consumers’ Goods” pavilion, designed as part of Kyrgyz SSR Exhibition of National Economic Achievements (VDNH), designed by V.Lysenko, A.Neschurin, built in 1974 . “Consumers’ Goods” pavilion feathered in"Return From the Future", 43min., HD transferred to DVD, 2019. The film tackles the issues of urban transformations and protection of soviet heritage in Kyrgyzstan on the example of listed modernist iconic buildings, some of them are partly neglected some are in better shape, some others are in various states of rehabilitation/transformation. . The film will be premiered at the opening of freshly renovated History Museum (former V.I.Lenin museum), stay tuned! . . #doc_film_inprogress #insularmodernities . #socialistarchitecture_kyrgyzstan #socialistarchitecture #insularmodernities #socialistcity_bishkek #socialistcityandurbanism #bishkek #frunze #kyrgyzstan #archdaily #dezeen #sovmod #sovarch #sovietarchitecture #соварх #совмод #архитектура #модернизм #соцарх #соцархитектура #socialistcity (at Frunze, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv84jx7gz19/?utm_medium=tumblr

At the construction site of Toktogulskaya hydropower plant, Kyrgyz SSR, USSR; circa 1975 [1300 x 936] Check this blog!

Emblem of the Kyrgyz SSR (via Wikipedia)

The ‘Great Kyrgyz Highway’, the 680-kilometre road from Bishkek (then Frunze) to Osh, after its completion in 1965. Its construction over the famous passes of Too-Ashuu and Ala-Bel, the Chychkan gorge, through the mountains of central Kyrgyzstan and down into the Fergana Valley had taken eight years. (photographer unknown, source)

Independence Day of the Kyrgyz Republic – August 31. On August 31, 1991, the Supreme Soviet of the Kyrgyz SSR adopted a declaration of independence of the Kyrgyz Republic. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan became one of the first countries in the world to recognize independence and on May 10, 1992 established diplomatic relations with the Kyrgyz Republic. The Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan was established by the Decree of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic in May 2006. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan, the President, the Prime Minister and the Toraga of the JK of the Kyrgyz Republic have visited Pakistan twice, and two Presidents and four Prime Ministers of Pakistan have also visited Kyrgyzstan. In order to promote the development of trade and economic cooperation, the Kyrgyz-Pakistani Joint Ministerial Commission on Trade and Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation is functioning. In total, 3 JMC meetings were held in 2003, 2007 and 2017. About 8000 Pakistani students study at various universities of the Kyrgyz Republic (mainly in medical universities). Since 2017, the Kyrgyz-Pakistani International Institute of Medical Sciences has been operating at the MUK. (at Kyrgyzstan) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEbcsAbHP5U/?igshid=13msr0mbcumjd

Flag of Kyrgyzstan

Aspect Ratio 3:5

The current flag of Kyrgyzstan was adopted in 1992. The flag was adopted to replace the flag of Kirghiz SSR, which had collapsed seven months prior. The central emblem features a sun, symbolizing bravery and valor. In the center of the sun is the roof (tunduk) atop of a traditional Kyrgyz yurt, from a bird's eye view. The yurt is said to indicate the origin of life, unity of time and space, hearth and home, as well as Kyrgyz history. The red field, while identical to the soviet flag's color, is an allusion to Manas, folk hero of Kyrgyzstan, who raised a pennant of the same color. The 40 rays of the sun are also an homage to Manas, as he united 40 tribes in his fight against the Mongols, and had 40 followers. The Manas-related symbolism is not without controversy, as according to his namesake epic, he conquered many of the ethnic groups who live in modern, ethnically diverse Kyrgyzstan.

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Kemin, Kyrgyzstan, Oct. 2015 (via Google Street View)

: . “Consumers’ Goods” pavilion, designed as part of Kyrgyz SSR Exhibition of National Economic Achievements (VDNH), designed by V.Lysenko, A.Neschurin, built in 1974 . “Consumers’ Goods” pavilion feathered in"Return From the Future", 43min., HD transferred to DVD, 2019. The film tackles the issues of urban transformations and protection of soviet heritage in Kyrgyzstan on the example of listed modernist iconic buildings, some of them are partly neglected some are in better shape, some others are in various states of rehabilitation/transformation. . The film will be premiered at the opening of freshly renovated History Museum (former V.I.Lenin museum), stay tuned! . . #doc_film_inprogress #insularmodernities . #socialistarchitecture_kyrgyzstan #socialistarchitecture #insularmodernities #socialistcity_bishkek #socialistcityandurbanism #bishkek #frunze #kyrgyzstan #archdaily #dezeen #sovmod #sovarch #sovietarchitecture #соварх #совмод #архитектура #модернизм #соцарх #соцархитектура #socialistcity (at Frunze, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv84jx7gz19/?utm_medium=tumblr

Microdistrict No. 10. Photo by Askarbek Abdygulov, Frunze, Kyrgyz SSR, 1979

August 4, 2018 the Russian heavy puncher Dmitry Bivol @bivol_d 14-0-11 handed the former world title challenger Isaac Chilemba @lsaac_chilemba 25-6-2-10 his sixth career defeat by unanimous decision and fended his WBA light heavyweight title. The fight was on @bivol_d side the whole night but @isaacchilemba was a tough opponent taking all the clean shots and not going back always looked for the fight with tremendous heart but @bivol_d was a better man and won the fight #hardrockcafe #etessarena #atlanticcity #us #usa #unitedstates #russia #russian #dmitrybivol #isaacchilemba #tokmak #miami #florida #kyrgyz #ssr #sovietunion #blantyre #malawi #masterpunch #thebeautyofboxing #masterpunchboxing #youonlygiveupwhenyouaredead #warriros #champions #spicyboxing #palmspringsnorth #boxingfans #

History of Kyrgyzstan

Historical map of Central Asia Man on horse in Kyrgyzstan The history of the Kyrgyz people and the land of Kyrgyzstan goes back more than 2,000 years. Although geographically isolated by its mountainous location, it had an important role as part of the historical Silk Road trade route. In between periods of self-government it was ruled by Göktürks, the Uyghur Empire, and the Khitan people, before being conquered by the Mongols in the 13th century; subsequently it regained independence but was invaded by Kalmyks, Manchus and Uzbeks. In 1876 it became part of the Russian Empire, remaining in the USSR as the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic after the Russian Revolution. Following Mikhael Gorbachev's democratic reforms in the USSR, in 1990 pro-independence candidate Askar Akayev was elected president of the SSR. On 31 August 1991, Kyrgyzstan declared independence from Moscow, and a democratic government was subsequently established. More details Android, Windows