London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

Russian parliament could vote on worst catastrophe of 20th century

Russian parliament could vote on worst catastrophe of 20th century

The Russian parliament is mulling a motion to memorialize the fall of the USSR as one of history's darkest moments.
A group of Russian MPs has moved to officially designate the fall of the Soviet Union, which happened 30 years ago this month, as the biggest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century.

Representatives of the right-wing populist LDPR party submitted the resolution to the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, on Monday, proposing to send it to Russian President Vladimir Putin and to other authorities across the country.

The document reads, “the Duma once more calls attention to the importance of historical lessons from the events of 30 years ago, which led to political, societal, and economic problems."

If passed, the motion would declare that the parliament "considers the fall of the USSR the main geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century, which led to disintegration across different spheres of social life, the exacerbation of an economic and political crisis, and the emergence of conflicts on national soil.”

The Soviet Union officially ceased to exist on December 25, 1991, when Mikhail Gorbachev, its leader since 1985, announced that he would no longer serve as President. Boris Yeltsin, who later became the first President of the Russian Federation, had already signed an agreement with the leaders of Belarus and Ukraine on December 8, declaring that the USSR was effectively defunct. This treaty became known as the Belovezh Accords.

A recent poll focused on the 30th anniversary of the fall found that Russians dislike Gorbachev more than anyone else from the Soviet era, blaming him for the dramatic decline in living standards that followed the USSR’s collapse, as well as for Moscow’s diminished standing on the world stage. 20% named him as their most hated figure, well ahead of anyone else.

An earlier poll on a similar theme found that most Russians have positive associations with the Soviet Union, connecting it with things like stability, peace, and hope for a better future. The most common negative connotations were shortages and long lines at stores.

Earlier this month, in an interview aired on Russian television, President Putin said that he considers the dissolution of the USSR “a tragedy for the vast majority of the country’s citizens.”
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×