According to the constition, all languages were equal. However, Russian was supposed to be the language of international communication, thus putting Estonian at a disadvantage.
The Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic (Estonian S.S.R.) was the name for Estonia when it was part of the USSR. It was invaded and occupied by the USSR on 17 June1940. It was subsequently conquered by the Germans before being re-annexed by the Soviets in 1944.
The Estonian SSR was a constituent republic of the USSR; It's economy, however, fared better than other Soviet states. It was one of the smallest republics of the USSR and was also smaller than most European countries. In addition to the mainland, it covered over 1500 islands.
Approximately 65% of the population were ethnic Estonians (1979), although there was a large Russian minority (28%). Other statistically noteworthy minorities included Ukrainians (2.5%), Belarusians (± 2%) and Finns (± 1.5%).
The Estonian SSR became the Republic of Estonia in 1990 and ceased to be a Soviet republic in 1991. On 20 August of that year, Estonia declared its independence.
The Union of SovietSocialistRepublics is an integral, federal, multinational state formed on the principle of socialist federalism as a result of the free self-determination of nations and the voluntary association of equal SovietSocialistRepublics.
The territory of the Union of SovietSocialistRepublics is a single entity and comprises the territories of the Union Republics.
An Autonomous Republic shall ensure comprehensive economic and social development on its territory, facilitate exercise of the powers of the USSR and the Union Republic on its territory, and implement decisions of the highest bodies of state authority and administration of the USSR and the Union Republic.
Estonia (in Estonian, Eesti), formerly EstonianSovietSocialistRepublic, now known as the Republic of Estonia, republic in north-eastern Europe, bounded on the north by the Gulf of Finland, on the east by Russia, on the south by Latvia, and on the west by the Baltic Sea.
Estonia, with a population of 1,324,333 (2006 estimate), is the smallest republic of the former Union of SovietSocialistRepublics (USSR).
In September 2003 Estonian membership of the EU was strongly endorsed in a referendum, with 66.9 per cent of voters supporting the move.
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