Restoration of national autonomies of repressed peoples in the RSFSR in the late 1950s in the context of legal succession theory

Abstract

The liquidation of autonomous republics, deportation of peoples to the Siberian and Central Asian regions, subsequent restoration of the national statehood in 1957-1958 remain relevant topic in studying the history of statehood of Russian peoples in the Soviet period. The subject of this article is examination of the question of continuity, legal succession and continuation of autonomies in southern of RSFSR after being restored in 1957. This is related to the fact that in discussing socially significant issues in the southern republics of Russia, arises the question of whether restoration (formation) of the autonomies of repressed peoples in the late 1950s should be considered the beginning of a new stage of statehood or continuation of the stage prior to deportation. Another aspect is territorial integrity of the republics, or rather the problem of territorial rehabilitation, when a number of territories during restoration in 1957 stayed in the neighboring regions. Analysis is conducted on the normative acts of USSR and the RSFSR, as well as archival documents on the history of national statehood of the regions. The author concludes on applicability of the concept of legal succession to the restored autonomous republics (Kabardino-Balkaria, Kalmykia, Chechen-Ingushetia) of repressed peoples in comparison to those existed prior to deportation period. Karachay-Cherkessia marked succession to the former Karachay Autonomous Oblast and Cherkess National Okrug.