The Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR (Belarusian: Вярхоўны Савет Беларускай ССР, Vyarkhowny Savyet Byelaruskay SSR; Russian: Верховный Совет Белорусской ССР tr. Verkhovnyy Sovet Belorusskoy SSR) was the highest organ of state power of Belarus (Byelorussia), then known as the Byelorussian SSR from 1938 to 1991. It was the only branch of government in the republic, and per the principle of unified power, all state organs are subservient to it. The Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR was preceded by the All-Byelorussian Central Executive Committee (1920–1938) and the All-Byelorussian Congress of Soviets (1919–1937). The Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR was briefly disbanded in 1941 due to the Great Patriotic War and was re-established in 1947. The Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR was briefly succeeded by the Supreme Council of Belarus from 1991 to 1996. The Supreme Council of Belarus was succeeded by the National Assembly of Belarus in 1996.

Until Gorbachev's democratization program, the Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR was a rubber stamp like all other supreme soviets of the union republics of the Soviet Union, existing only to provide legal sanction for policies already implemented by the Communist Party of Byelorussia. The 1990 Belarusian Supreme Soviet election was the only supreme soviet election where opposition parties were able to run.

History The Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR was established pursuant to the Constitution of the Byelorussian SSR from 1937, which changed the organization of main political organs of the republic. In theory, the Supreme Soviet's powers were unlimited per unified power. However, in practice, the Supreme Soviet's powers were curtailed by the Communist Party of Byelorussia.

Supreme Soviet elections were held in 1938, 1947, 1951, 1955, 1959, 1963, 1967, 1971, 1975, 1980, 1985, and 1990. In 1990, 360 deputies were elected.

Chairmen of the Supreme Soviet The Chairman of the Supreme Soviet was speaker of the legislative assembly. With the disbandment of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR in May 1990, the powers of the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet were transferred to the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet. This changed the role and powers of the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet from 1990 and onwards. The office-holders remained speakers of the assembly and additionally became the de jure heads of state.

PictureNameTook officeLeft officePolitical partyChairmen of the Supreme Soviet1Nadezhda Grekova

(1910–2001)25 July 193812 March 1947CPSU2Vasily Kozlov

(1903–1967)12 March 194717 March 1948CPSU3Eugene Bugaev (1912–1997)17 March 194814 April 1949CPSU4Joseph Belsky (1903–1966)14 April 194928 March 1955CPSU5Timofey Garbunov (1904–1969)28 March 195528 March 1963CPSU6Vasily Shavura (1912–2007)28 March 196322 December 1965CPSU7Maksim Tank

(1912–1995)22 December 196515 July 1971CPSU8Ivan Shamiakin

(1921–2004)15 July 197128 March 1985CPSU9Ivan Naumenko

(1925–2006)28 March 198515 May 1990CPSU10Nikolai Dementey (1930–2018)19 May 199025 August 1991CPSU–Stanislav Shushkevich

(1934–2022)25 August 199118 September 1991CPSU

Chairmen of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet The Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet was the de jure head of state of the Byelorussian SSR. With the disbandment of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Byelorussian SSR in May 1990, the powers of the Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet were transferred to the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet. This changed the role and powers of the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet from 1990 and onwards.

PictureNameTook officeLeft officePolitical partyChairmen of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet1(1900–1964)27 July 193817 March 1948CPSU2Vasily Kozlov (1903–1967)17 March 19482 December 1967CPSU–(1911–1976)2 December 196722 January 1968CPSU(1924–?)2 December 196722 January 1968CPSU3Sergey Pritytsky (1913–1971)22 January 196813 June 1971CPSU–(1911–1976)13 June 197116 July 1971CPSUIvan Klimov (1903–1991)13 June 197116 July 1971CPSU(1924–?)13 June 197116 July 1971CPSU4(1911–1976)16 July 197126 December 1976CPSU–(1907–1984)27 December 197628 February 1977CPSU(born 1941)27 December 197628 February 1977CPSU5(1914–2004)28 February 197729 November 1985CPSU6(1937–2003)29 November 198528 July 1989CPSU7Nikolai Dementey (1930–2018)28 July 198915 May 1990CPSU

See also

Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union Supreme Soviet Byelorussian SSR

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