Source: https://ria.ru/history_spravki/20110315/354060265.html
Referendum about preservation of the USSR on March 17, 1991. Short Brief
On April 3, 1990 the special Law USSR has been passed "About an order of the solution of the questions connected with an exit of the Federal Republic from the USSR", in which article 2 it has been established that "the decision on an exit of the Federal Republic from the USSR is accepted by free will of the people the Federal Republic by a referendum (peoples vote)".
By the beginning of the ninetieth years of the XX century dezintegratsionny processes in the USSR have gained critical character.
In the spring summer of 1990 has begun so-called "parade of sovereignties", during which Baltic, and behind them and other republics of the USSR, including Russia, have accepted Declarations on the National Sovereignty, in which have challenged a priority all-union laws over the republican. Also they have undertaken actions on control over local economy, including refusals to pay taxes in allied and federal Russian budgets. These conflicts broke many economic links, that has even more worsened an economic situation in the USSR.
In these conditions of one of the most important tasks there was a problem of reforming of the USSR and the conclusion of the new Allied contract, in which the rights of the republics essentially extended.
On April 3, 1990 has been passed the special Law USSR "About an order of the solution of questions, connected with an exit of the Federal Republic from the USSR", in article 2 of which has been established that "the decision on an exit of the Federal Republic from the USSR is accepted by free will of the people the Federal Republic by a referendum (peoples vote)".
On December 3, 1990 Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR, reacting to "parade of sovereignties", has adopted the resolution "About the general concept of the new Allied contract and an order of its conclusion". The concept provided transformation of the multinational Union in "voluntary Union of the Sovereign Republics equal in rights- Democratic Federal States".
However prompt increase of processes of disintegration has pushed the management of the USSR led by Mikhail Gorbachev to carrying out an all-union referendum.
The decision on carrying out a referendum was accepted on IV Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR, when 1665 delegates from 1816 present have voted for preservation of USSR. On December 24, 1990 Congress has accepted the resolution "About carrying out a referendum of the USSR of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics".
In response to the solution IV of Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR and according to the legislation on a referendum of the USSR, recognising that anybody, except the people, cannot assume historical responsibility for destiny of USSR, Supreme Council of the USSR on January 16, 1991 has adopted the Resolution"About the organisation and measures for ensuring carrying out a referendum of the USSR of preservation Union Soviet Socialist Republics".
On March 17, 1991 has taken place unique for 70 summer period existence of the USSR referendum.
Before citizens of the Soviet Union has been raised the question: "Did you consider necessary preservation of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics as updated federation of the sovereign republics equal in rights, in which the rights will be guaranteed fully and freedoms of the person of any nationality?".
The referendum was on this matter carried out to RSFSR, Ukrainian the Soviet Socialist Republic, Belarusian the Soviet Socialist Republic, Uzbek the Soviet Socialist Republic, Azerbaijani the Soviet Socialist Republic, Kirghiz the Soviet Socialist Republic, Tajik the Soviet Socialist Republic, Turkmen the Soviet Socialist Republic, in the republics which are a part of RSFSR, Uzbek the Soviet Socialist Republic and Azerbaijani the Soviet Socialist Republic, in the Abkhazian ASSR, a part Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic, and also in districts and on the sites formed at the Soviet establishments and in military units abroad.
In Kazakh the Soviet Socialist Republic vote on a referendum of the USSR it was carried out on a question formulated by the Supreme Council of the republic: "Did you consider necessary preservation of USSR as Union of the sovereign states equal in rights". Thus Presidium of the Supreme Council Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic officially asked to include results of vote in the general results of a referendum of the USSR.
In six federal republics (Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Georgia, Moldova, Armenia), which declared earlier independence or about transition to independence, the all-Union referendum actually was not carried out. By the authorities of these republics have not been created Central election commissions of a referendum, but part of citizens of these republics living in the territory, nevertheless could vote. Number of local Councils of People's Deputies, labour collectives and public associations at the enterprises, in establishments and the organisations, and also command of military units, being guided by resolution points 3 and 5 Supreme Council of the USSR "About a course of implementation of the resolution of the Supreme Council of the USSR about the organisation and measures for ensuring carrying out a referendum of the USSR on March 17, 1991", have independently formed districts and sites, district and local commissions, registered by the Central commission of a referendum of the USSR. The referendum also has taken place in Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Transnistria and Gagauzy.
The central commission of a referendum of the USSR has established, that vast majority of citizens have expressed for preservation of the Union State in the updated look.
According to the commission on USSR as a whole: in lists of the citizens, having the right to participate in a referendum of the USSR, 185 647 355 people have been included; have taken part in vote of 148 574 606 people, or 80 % of percent. From them have answered: "YES"113 512 812 person, or 76,4 %; "NO" - 32 303 977 people, or 21,7 %; Are recognised as the void - 2 757 817 bulletins, or 1,9 %.
In RSFSR in lists for vote have been included 105 643 364 person; have taken part in vote 79 701 169 (75,44 %). From them have answered " YES " 56 860 783 (71,34% participating, 53,82 % of voters), " NO" - 21 030 753 (26,39%). Are recognised as the void 1 809 633 bulletins.
In Lithuania where the referendum was carried out only on sites in military units and at the enterprises, for "the updated Union" have expressed near 16% inhabitants of the Republic, having the right to vote. In Latvia where the all-union referendum officially was not carried out, on polling stations, organised at the enterprises and in military units, about 21 % from total number of inhabitants of Latvia, having the right to vote, have supported "the updated Union". Have positively answered this question of 21,3 % of inhabitants of Estonia having the right to vote.
In Moldova where according to the parliament decision the referendum was not carried out, for the Union about 21 % of voters on the sites organised at the enterprises and in military units have voted.(Коммерсантъ weekly, Москва, 25.03.1991.)
Abkhazia and South Ossetia, taken part in the All-Union referendum,have voted for preservation of the USSR. It agrees to the message of the Central commission of a referendum, in particular, in the Abkhazian ASSR in vote have taken part 52,3% numbers of the citizens included in lists for vote from which 98,6 % have answered "YES".
However further the will of citizens has been ignored number of politicians and political institutes of the power and managements in the USSR have been liquidated as a result of the Belovezhsky agreements signed on December 8, 1991.