Karelian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic

Karelian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic
Карельская Автономная Советская Социалистическая Республика
Karjalan autonominen sosialistinen neuvostotasavalta
ASSR of the Russian SFSR
1923–1940
1956–1991

Location of Karelian ASSR within RSFSR and Soviet Union (1956-1991)
CapitalPetrozavodsk
Area
  Coordinates61°47′00″N 34°21′00″E / 61.783333°N 34.35°E / 61.783333; 34.35
 
 1989
180,500 km2 (69,700 sq mi)
Population 
 1989
790,150
Government
  TypeAutonomous Soviet Socialist Republic
Chairman 
 1923–1935 (first)
Edvard Gylling
 1990–1991 (last)
Viktor Stepanov
History 
 Established
25 July 1923
31 March 1940
 Demotion to ASSR
6 July 1956
 Sovereignty declared
9 August 1990
13 November 1991
Preceded by
Succeeded by
1923: Karelian Labor Commune
1956: Karelo-Finnish SSR
1940: Karelo-Finnish SSR
1990:
Republic of Karelia

The Karelian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, Karelian ASSR for short, sometimes referred to as Soviet Karelia, East Karelia or simply Karelia, was an autonomous republic of the Russian SFSR within the Soviet Union, with its capital in Petrozavodsk. It existed from 25 July 1923 to 31 March 1940 and again from 6 July 1956 to 13 November 1991. It was succeeded by the Republic of Karelia.