Why was Kazakhstan the last to leave the USSR? (Short Animated Documentary)

Kazakhstan left the USSR four days after Russia did. Making it sole remaining state in the Soviet Union. But why?
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[@AbsolutelyRandomUsername]

I think it's also worth noting that Kazakhstan's former president-for-almost-life Nursultan Nazarbayev, and back then first secretary of the Kazakh communist party, was widely seen as a potential successor to Gorbachev or at the very least an incredibly influential player in Soviet politics, which helps explain his (and Kazakhstan's) reluctance to leave the USSR

[@iatespaghetti5869]

If I am not mistaken, Gorbachev promised Nazarbayev Vice-President/Prime-Minister role, that’s why Kazakh SSR was reluctant to disslove

[@rustomkanishka]

Well, he had the best claims. They have the best potassium.

[@corey2232]

"Dammit, it was supposed to be *MY* time! When will I ever catch a friggin' break?!" - Nazarbayev, probably

[@NickB1967]

@@rustomkanishka All other countries have inferior potassium

[@saulgoodmanKAZAKH]

Basically, Stealsultan loved the U.S.S.R. too much

[@DylanoRevs]

Russia: *leaves USSR" Kazakhstan: "Hold on. This whole operation was your idea."

[@R3stor]

Kazakhstan: "so now it is we who runs this whole business?" Russia: "well yes, but actually ... no."

[@srirampatnaik9164]

Basically when you join a group chat, and everyone leaves except you

[@samfire3067]

​@@srirampatnaik9164 IS The New admin.

[@srirampatnaik9164]

@@samfire3067 Oh, that is the most depressing message a kid could read as a gamer

[@Cynderfan35]

Russia: "I have no recollection of the event in question."

[@sometakenuser5672]

Video Idea: How did Japan react to Germany’s Surrender in WW2

[@EpicnessYeet]

i honestly wanna see this lol

[@magivkmeister6166]

Probably like "Oh shi-"

[@phillipsesate1364]

Great Idea!

[@Hot_Grill43]

Or Italy

[@gabrielportillo2534]

Amazing idea

[@Goldenblitzer]

I always wondered why the Kazakhs were the last ones out, glad to know it was the power of friendship

[@akolyt]

The power of friendship between dictators maybe. 🙄 The Kazakh people don't want anything to do with russia.

[@Ake-TL]

@@akolyt more people voted on preservation of USSR than dissolution. May be not out of love but on pragmatic basis of predicting how shitty 90s would be, couldn’t tell, wasn’t alive back then

[@youtubeaccount5153]

@@Ake-TL more people voted to preserve the USSR? Voted where? When? Results?

[@youtubeaccount5153]

Yes, love is a beautiful thing. {sarcasm mode}

[@stefans.466]

@@youtubeaccount5153 Social studies. Most people had the sentiment that the ussr should be preserved.

[@brandonlyon730]

Loved the Star Wars reference with the C.I.S, the Battle droids were always one of my favorite things in the franchise.

[@Emperor_Atlantis]

Backtoid manufacturing is confirmed a Russian factoryrig ,😂

[@tofco6444]

I was looking for who saw this 😂

[@daveyboygenius]

@@tofco6444 same

[@caspianhorlick4529]

Clanker spotted Sarge! Blast 'em!

[@angeloauditore8895]

Does that means that the Trade Federation is behind the Perestroika?

[@rowan1924]

Kazakstan was one of the great superpowers of the 20th century, you cannot change my mind

[@Queen_Miku]

ikr

[@masteroogway9281]

@Mughal Nationalist{EX ISLAMIST NOW MONARCHIST} it was nothing but an empty land so it made easier and the russians added more territory over the period of time especially to Kazakhstan and Ukraine since these 2 were the favorites among the elites in Moscow and the also wanted increased co operation with these 2 states since it had large numbers of russians btw my grandma was from kazakhstan and my mother was from India

[@ermin2248]

Kazakhstan greatest country in the world...

[@Hand-in-Shot_Productions]

Technically correct!

[@masteroogway9281]

@@ermin2248 biggest landlocked country in the world

[@guillaumechevalier3368]

Kazakhstan used to be a miniature version of the Soviet Union, almost as diverse in its landscape and national diversity, being Stalin's second favourite destination for deportation after Siberia. In 1991 there was as many Russians as Kazakhs in the republic. And also, Baïkonur.

[@azertymozart2334]

You forgot that the Bolsheviks tested its nuclear and chemical weapons in Kazakhstan as well.

[@firstnamelastname4249]

Taking his people out to trip for free what a leader the world needs more leaders like him.

[@siyacer]

Indeed

[@InfernosReaper]

@@firstnamelastname4249 yes, he loved sending people on camping trips

[@guillaumechevalier3368]

@@azertymozart2334 you're right! How could I forget? Also, they had their own famine in the beginning of the 1920s, as, more famously, on the Volga, and ten years later their own holodomor, or "Aşarşylyq".

[@squeaksquawk4255]

An interesting note is that while Kasakhstan left the USSR, it didn't end it. For a few days after Kazakhstan left, the USSR existed as a country with no territory before being dissolved by Gorbachev

[@girlgarde]

So basically, the USSR was a glorified political party. It'd have been funny if Gorbachev had set up the USSR on a plot of land somewhere and declared it the USSR rather then dissolve it.

[@Josephistry]

Soviet government in exile

[@슬라바우크라이나헤로]

@@girlgarde nah. It was a political entity without a state. The sovereign order of Malta, or something like that, is also a political entity without any territory

[@TheOnlyPOOCH]

So the USSR went from being the biggest country, to the smallest country, to non existent in like 10 days or so 😂

[@squeaksquawk4255]

@@TheOnlyPOOCH More or less!

[@reygonzalez4719]

Kazakhstan was just that one friend who got really hungover and didn't realize the party was over until everybody left

[@СержанАлимов-н4ж]

Внатуре жы есть

[@KAZAKHCAT]

WHO START REVOLUTION FIRST MY VATNIK FRIEND

[@BlackPigeonPilled]

Except for a time Kazakhstan had all the USSR's nuclear weapons.

[@herrzimm]

Being only 18 when all this happened, and focused more on graduating High School, I really didn't pay much attention to HOW it came about, only that the USSR as I had known it growing up was "no more". Basically, I was more aware of the 'collapse of Russia" (Communism) than I was about how each member became independent. And being American, the concept of "winning" the Cold War was also kind center-stage as well. BUT, as I recall it while discussing it in college 2 years later. Most of us just assumed that any kind of "delay" that took place declaring independence had more to do with needing to form a "quick government structure" than anything like international politics, trade related, or attempts to remain united. So, most of the issues were about setting up "local control" instead of "centralized control" when each member state "broke off" from one another. Some countries being formally "occupied" regions after WW2 basically still had the same structures in place locally, but other regions had kind of lost that structure due to being members for so long. Keep in mind that this was just 2 years later, so MOST of the information we were getting at the time was about who was doing what, and who the new leaders were of which former 'state', now nations. The how/why of things were not getting out, and even if it was it would have been drowned out by the news of WHO or WHEN it happened. So, it is kind of interesting to "revisit" this period of time and look at it more objectively by focusing more on the how it happened and why it happened. Instead of just recalling my personal memories from this period to "fill in the gaps" based on assumptions and speculation at the time it happened.

[@neonbunnies9596]

@@Как-я9й nobody asked for your opinion either

[@KFP_DonDon_Quixote]

@@Как-я9й Rude, he wasn't even addressing you.

[@drakegod84]

In 1990', I was only 6 years old. I remember doing my part in dismantling the Soviet Union by telling my father about the 35mm projector slides my friend was giving to me. My father, who was a Chief in the Navy at the time knew exactly what they were, they were, the slides were Naval airmen training slides used to recognize ship class type while flying over top of them. Most of the slides were pictures of warships like CV's, submarines, DD's frigits etc. Anyways my father reported this to his CO and an investigation took place. The MP's walked into his house and founds a bounty of classified documents stolen from base, turns out my friends father was taking these documents and other materials and giving them to the Russians, as it turns out my friends dad was a Russian spy.

[@thiagodeandrade7081]

He probablupy shouldn't have allowed his son to play with his classified documents. But I am confused, at this point wasn't the Russians/basically the former Soviet Central government (Gorbachev was leaving, former Soviet insider Yeltsin was getting in) well aware of what the República had or hadn't. It is kinda like the USA spying a Fort in Texas. They should have everything in a file in Washington.

[@runtav_guz8564]

You were born the same year my dad was and he was also from the eastern block

[@HoennMaster]

It always made me laugh how Moscow was technically the capital of a country that didn’t control the city for a few days, and then the capital of a country that didn’t even exist for almost 2 weeks.

[@iatespaghetti5869]

Not only that, Nursultan Nazarbayev was promised Vice-President/Prime-Minister of the USSR position by Gorbachev. Also 16th of December was symbolic date as on 16th of December there were mass protests against the Soviet Rule, these were the first mass protests for independence in any of the Soviet Republics. One of the biggest mistakes Yeltsin added was not inviting Karimov( head of Uzbekistan) and Nazarbayev to Belavezha Accords

[@ТимурАязбаев-м9о]

As far as i know Nazarbayev was invited to Belavezha, although it was Last Minute, it's just that Nazarbayev informed Yeltsyn regarding the Accord

[@-haclong2366]

That is because the Soviet Union was originally created as a union of Russia, Belarus, and the Ukraine, later they added Transcaucasia, Khwarozm, and Bukhara. They occupied the Baltic States in World War II. This is probably why it was only those three.

[@addyred1861]

What mistake it all worked out just the way drunk boris wanted it to happen

[@chingizzhylkybayev8575]

The December 16th protests weren't independence protests. Basically, people were mad that someone who wasn't an ethnic Kazakh was appointed as the head of Kazakh SSR.

[@saulgoodmanKAZAKH]

Actually Nazik WAS invited and he even said that he'd come (according to Stanislav Šuškevič) and they prepared everything for him, but he didn't arrive.

[@scotandiamapping4549]

I never thought History Matters would make this episide but now that they have I'm extremely excited

[@hungariancountryball2928]

Same

[@optimisticneighsayer5823]

I suspect it’s because RealLifeLore made a similar video not long ago and, well, competition.

[@sweiland75]

The breakup of the USSR is a very significant moment in world history.

[@scotandiamapping4549]

@@optimisticneighsayer5823 wasnt rll's over a year ago?

[@lonestarr1490]

@@scotandiamapping4549 Those videos take time, ok?! (just kidding, btw)

[@Robbstark2024]

Kazakhstan is that last guy at the party who tries blasting music at 5:00am to keep the party going when everyone’s just dead tired and wants it to end

[@R3stor]

even after the owner of the house (a.k.a. Russia) turns down the music totally

[@kamsulaman7007]

GOAT shit

[@saguntum-iberian-greekkons7014]

The try hard guys that tries to reconciliate everyone and brining them back into the band

[@Ragnarok540]

Sounds like a communist party.

[@Nexxarian]

So basically when Kazakhstan was the entirety of the USSR, the country's capital was outside of the country itself in Russia. And so for 4 days, two nations shared the same city as their capital (without dividing the city).

[@BeaconOfEcon]

I am just replying because you are a LU fan and have a Nexus force logo. Super cool dude! 👍

[@Nexxarian]

@@BeaconOfEcon Not many people recognize what it is anymore. Nice to see someone who does!

[@Hand-in-Shot_Productions]

I have heard of Kazakhstan being the last republic to leave the USSR, but I didn't know this 4-day wait was a last-ditch attempt for Kazakhstan and Nazarbayev to retain close ties with Gorbachev! Thanks for the information about this odd chapter of Kazakh history!

[@detectiverubs5830]

A few days ago Switzerland celebrated their national holiday, this made me wonder, what parts of the founding legends (Bundesbrief, Wilhelm Tell, Rütlischwur, ... ) are actually true and how important were they really for the birth of switzerland. Or to put it simpler: How did Switzerland come into existence?

[@unclenogbad1509]

For starters, always assume founding legends to be false. Even when vaguely true, they'll always have been embroidered to suit the official narrative. A bit like; I don't know; maybe if a bunch of slave owners made a declaration that all people are born free and equal.....

[@TheMoviePlanet]

How did Switzerland came into existence? Modern Switzerland? The answer is Napoleon.

[@unclenogbad1509]

@@TheMoviePlanet It very often is.

[@AV57]

I always assumed it had something to do with sacking Rome with a bunch of other Gauls.

[@louisduarte8763]

Also, was it ever a member of the Holy Roman Empire, and somehow didn't get absorbed into Germany proper?

[@yogurtclosetok]

Fun Fact: this makes Kazakhstan the only country to ever secede from itself

[@mojewjewjew4420]

Fun fact:no

[@plumjet09]

⁠Fact: this fact is correct.

[@bluebaum2.7.16]

Love the little Star Wars reference, always love when people are deeper into the lore than you expect.

[@ateium2409]

Time stamp plz 💓

[@koharumi1]

1:03

[@yerassylmukhamediyar4818]

It is nice and pleasing to see the video about your country after a workday Very accurate information! Love from Kazakhstan ❤️

[@primpal08]

When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor Canada declared war immediately. The US congress would officially declare war the next day. So, for one day, Canada stood alone (of the Americas) against the Japanese Empire.

[@korosuke1788]

Another fun fact. Chile was the last country to join WW2 on the allies side. Having historically very good relationship with the germans, they only joined on april the 11th, 1945, when only Japan remained and was pretty much doomed.

[@BoxStudioExecutive]

@@korosuke1788 and people make fun of the US for joining the world wars late

[@primpal08]

@@korosuke1788 Enough time to get a couple ships across so they could have veteran's day parades. 😁

[@spartacus3111]

Canada had already joined WW2 as an ally of the United Kingdom. Canadian troops were stationed in the British colony of Hong Kong so the more experienced British soldiers there previously could head to other theatres. Japan invaded Hong Kong four hours after Pearl Harbor. Britain and Canada declared war on Japan because of Hong Kong, not because of Pearl Harbor.

[@_Solaris]

@@spartacus3111 thanks for this. I didn't know.

[@ElysiumCreator]

1:03 Love the Clone Wars reference, very well placed

[@Queen_Miku]

that went over my head for a moment LOL

[@pheumann86]

@@Queen_Miku Same :D

[@scarletoil7520]

Lol I went straight into the comments XD

[@Knightfaller]

YESSSS

[@kazaktranslator9850]

One of the reasons Kazakhstan left USSR in December 16th is memory. In 1986 there was a student uprising that was brutally squashed. Nazarbaev wanted to suppress the memory of the police brutality of that day by declaring independence about the same day when 1986 happened.

[@tillytilford2158]

I’ve often wondered about the history of the the countries that made up the USSR. Thank you

[@youtubeaccount5153]

Current history: One member state that had previously signed a treaty to recognize the border of a neighboring member state has now brutally invaded said neighboring member state.

[@firestorm6836]

@@youtubeaccount5153 Said invaded member state also promised in that same treaty that it wouldn’t join any organization that could threaten its neighboring member state, there are always two sides on the same coin

[@youtubeaccount5153]

@@firestorm6836 NATO has never once threatened Russia. The reality is, Putin is a Stalin that constantly threatened and interfered in Ukraines affairs. Putin unilaterally declaring authority over Ukraine’s independence doesn’t mean it’s ok. Putin seizing Crimea wasn’t because of NATO. It’s because Putin just wanted to. Putin fueling separatist movements in Donbas wasn’t because of NATO. It’s because Putin simply wanted to. Putin repeatedly made references to “the Ukraine” as if it is just simply a region of greater Russia.

[@nickred2023]

@@firestorm6836 I just read the document and there is no single word about any restriction that Ukraine has had in joining NATO or other organization. More than that, they never joined, so why an attack for something that never happened? Anyway, that's Russia and probably you know that they promised they would retreat their soldiers from Moldova by year 2000 and, guess what, it's 2022 and they're still there.

[@789know]

@@youtubeaccount5153 It didn't help when ukrainian government decided to deal with the separatist with guns when many of them don't take up arms yet. People blocking the military from entering, shoot them. Using bullets to shoot at civilians and bringing in militia to scare people don't work, tho police there were losing control of the situation and even defected. Oh and not properly investigating a deadly clashes that kill 4x people in odessa didn't help.

[@Juke_boxer]

3:15 i like the fact that you put Almaty as capital of Kazakhstan since it was the first capital of the country before Astana giving a good historical accuracy :)

[@ProdShamsRizqwani]

Isnt nur sultan the capital?

[@crankraz]

@@ProdShamsRizqwani it is

[@lazahman_01]

@@ProdShamsRizqwani нур султан это название астаны с 2020 по 2022 год, сейчам его вернули обратно на астану

[@lazahman_01]

вообще первая столица казахстана это Туркестан а в составе ссср это Оренбург а после Кызыл орда и ещё какой-то город и только после Алматы

[@TheKewlPerson]

I like how for 10 days after Kazakhstan left the USSR, it technically still existed as a country without any land.

[@thischannel4326]

TheKewlPerson Transnistria: Am I a joke to you?

[@KaiserFranzJosefI]

For ten days, the person of Mikhail Gorbachev was the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

[@papazataklaattiranimam]

Love Kazakhstan from Turkey Long live Turkic peoples😍😍😍

[@connorgolden4]

Lol loved the little Star Wars reference at 1:04 with the CIS symbol from the prequels lol.

[@B-52H]

Yesss the CIS also know of the confederates of independent systems

[@grondhero]

I was in the Army doing OSUT when this happened. [ *Side note:* In high school I took Russian because I wanted to be a spy, so back then I could have told you all the 'Republics' in the USSR.] We didn't learn about it (Desert Shield/Desert Storm was our concern) then (no TV during training). None of my friends or family mentioned it when I went on leave, either. Two years later, I'm watching TV and keep hearing the news say "Russia" instead of "USSR" or "Soviet Union." I was trying to figure out _why_ and couldn't. Eventually someone told me that the USSR collapsed.

[@Fordo007]

Wow, crazy how no one would inform our military our mortal enemy just dissolved.

[@Josephistry]

@@Fordo007 at that point tensions had been basically non existent between the US and the USSR and the cold war had been a full generation so I guess not many people cared.

[@Flash4ML]

Wow that's insane lol

[@mojewjewjew4420]

That if it is true is insane, if it happend...

[@grondhero]

@@mojewjewjew4420 It's not insane, (do you even understand the meaning?) it's just strange happenstance. How often do you go around telling people what happened on the news? How often do you tell people what happened months or years ago?

[@Willi_munich361]

If James Bisonette was there, he could have funded the USSR and kept it together

[@Zraknul]

They could've at least brought in Kelly Moneymaker to turn it around.

[@douglasboyle6544]

Isn't Transnistria "technically" the last remnant of the Soviet Union because they split off from Moldova before Moldova declared independence from the USSR and they've never given up their ties to the Soviet Union? I realize all of that is de facto and not de jure because no one recognized the Soviet Union any more - but that's why it's "technically"

[@karnickel-s33d16]

Then you'd just have the whole argument about what is and what isn't a country and no one wants to do that again

[@ericbrown1101]

Indeed and interestingly enough, Transnistria has the hammer and sickle on its flag, the only territory in the world, recognized or not, that still does.

[@rorychivers8769]

Gee I hope the Transnistrians don't get any irredentist ideas, we could all be in serious trouble

[@ericbrown1101]

@@rorychivers8769 they've had those ideas for 30 years. They broke away from Moldova because they opposed the breakup of the USSR. It's likely to be the next flashpoint in Europe if Russia achieves a significant breakthrough in Ukraine. There is a desire among Russian leadership to create a bridge to Transnistria across southern Ukraine, cutting Ukraine off from the Black Sea and trying to strangle it into submission, allowing them to seize the whole country. Then they'd likely move to conquer all of Moldova.

[@rorychivers8769]

@@ericbrown1101 Yeah, but it isn't quite as funny when you put it like that. I notice that the glorious Transnistrian army haven't opened up a second front in the west of Ukraine yet :)

[@marvelgeek9577]

1:03 Love the Star Wars Easter egg with the banner having the Confederacy of Independent Systems symbol.

[@spunchbop6927]

Thank you for explaining, I didn’t see it at first

[@lucianoosorio5942]

Boris Yeltsin : And just to inform you, I’ve used that freedom you’ve given us to go behind your back and make a deal with Ukraine and Belarus to dissolve the Soviet Union and set up the Russian Federation. In other words, you’re no longer in charge, I am. Mikhail Gorbachev: Dude… so uncool

[@massblabla]

oversimplified

[@PhilBallMapper]

*Russia left the meeting* Kazakhstan: I'm the captain now

[@СержанАлимов-н4ж]

Внатуре

[@mrtrollnator123]

@@СержанАлимов-н4ж pão de quežo

[@DM-wk7yr]

Fun fact: In Star Wars, C.I.S. stands for Confederacy of Independent Systems. They were the enemy faction that built the evil droid army and fought the protagonists of the Prequels Trilogy in the Clone Wars.

[@heinyhxc]

yeah and that was their symbol on the map in the video too lol

[@nerrler5574]

The CIS were in actuality the good guys, rising up against the Xenophobic and Human dominated Republic and it's corruption, but was infiltrated by the Sith(a branch of the Jedi) for their own goals of Galactic domination.

[@brandonlyon730]

Well the ones controlling the droid army were evil, the poor battle droids were just programmed that way and were just following orders to their uncaring masters who saw them as disposable cannon fodder.

[@youtubeaccount5153]

😳

[@YIIMM]

1:03

[@qasemqasem7144]

Damn you're becoming more and more creative in terms of animation and I'm loving it ❤️

[@Abba_Fan]

A video about my country, cool! Wanna add that also, Nazarbayev was quite pragmatic, and knew that leaving USSR for such economically backwards country as ours would be disastrous (which it was, 90s were basically the wild west, high inflation, unemployment, bandits roaming the cities, it was a total shitshow, only fixed by Tengiz Oil Fields and the huge amount of revenue contributed from it), however its hard to say if people wanted to stay or not. Many were afraid of change, however in 1986, in what is current day Almaty, there was a massive student protest for Independence from USSR at Republic Square. A very tumultuous time it was for us Kazakhs

[@Kukie_MNSTR]

Regards from Taraz=) My city was the "capital" for criminals of all ages and types. Shit, i even don't believe I survived those times with my attitude😁😁😁😁

[@Abba_Fan]

@@Kukie_MNSTR Oh yeah, I've heard about Taraz being awful in the 90s with crime, I'm from Atyrau, from what my parents told me, it wasn't as bad here due to police being very influential here and people had some work at Tengiz

[@masonmason9066]

Russia: leaves USSR Kazakhstan: hold on. this whole operation was your idea

[@ZelX-]

Dude I a absolutely love your animations. They are absolutely hilarious 🤣🤣🤣🤣 the graph at the start with the added chalk board off the screen was gold

[@abeltoth430]

Suggestions How did the world reacted to the birth of Israel? How did the world reacted to the partition of India? How did the world reacted to the birth of the 2 Koreas? How did the world reacted to the Vietnam war? How did the world reacted to the 1979 revolution of Iran? How did the world reacted to Falkland war? How did the world reacted to the Yugoslav war?

[@karnickel-s33d16]

Following Israel gaining independence, several of the countries neighboring it invaded, because they did not support a Jewish state being declared in a place where the majority of people were Muslim. Several countries established relationships with the provisional Israeli government, effectively recognizing the country, but the Soviet Union was the first country to officially recognize Israel

[@lhistorienchipoteur9968]

"How did the world" based.

[@Ragnarok540]

@@karnickel-s33d16 they are doing pretty well considering they are surrounded from every side, pretty much.

[@ramp597]

How did the world react to club penguin being taken down

[@Seriona1]

@@Ragnarok540 That's what happens when France and the US give you military equipment for years to come.

[@PakBallandSami]

“There was no such thing as Kazakhstan. It was just a chunk of Soviet Union. I had to build a country, to establish an army, our own police, our internal life, everything from roads to the constitution. I had to change the minds of the people 180 degrees, from totalitarian regime to freedom, from state property to private property. Nobody wanted to understand that. My comrades from the communist party were against me. I had to train myself too... I wasn't raised with democracy and freedom of speech.” ― Nursultan Nazarbayev

[@SebastianPeitsch]

So how about we rename our capital? To what? Well...

[@kjul.]

Doesn't matter since Kazakh people were never Russian though

[@Periwinkleaccount]

Still going to add periods?

[@FreeKraps]

Sounds like self righteous bullshit

[@shengliang2105]

Pretty sure the Kazakh people don't feel this way.. they did have a state before the Soviet Union, the Kazakh Khanate.

[@gemini_1085]

I nearly spat out my drink twice during this episode. The 'communism isnt working' document was enough for a like on it's own, but the Confederacy of Independent Systems insignia on the CIS flag was just peak. Thank you for what you do.

[@l0stmarble454]

Can you even secede from a union if there is no one to be United with effectively meaning no union exists to leave to begin with? The Kazakhstan paradox

[@stevenglowacki8576]

There actually is a sovereign entity under international law that does not control any territory: the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, with headquarters in Rome. The Soviet Union was like that between the time that Kazakhstan left and the union was formally dissolved. As for being the only member remaining, that's sorta what happened with "Serbia and Montenegro" with respect to Yugoslavia, except that the UN recognized Yugoslavia was broken up and there was no true successor even though Serbia + Montengero used the name "Yugoslavia" still for a few years (they had to be readmitted to the UN as such). Serbia did end up being considered the successor to the much smaller and newer Yugoslavia, but not to the older one.

[@l0stmarble454]

@@stevenglowacki8576 oh yeah I’ve heard of the order of Malta! I actually visited their headquarters when I was in Rome (well the outside of it st least) so cool that someone else has heard of them!

[@Hand-in-Shot_Productions]

Good point! That's what I've been thinking for as long as I've been aware of Kazakhstan's hesitation!

[@ericbrown1101]

A lot of that was simply formalities though. The Supreme Soviet of the USSR didn't formally declare the union to be dissolved until December 26, probably because everyone had already gone home for Christmas. I don't know that you can really say Kazakhstan genuinely seceded from anything. It became independent basically by default.

[@Myndir]

All unions of republics are non-normal sets and they also contain the empty set.

[@miahsafwanabdal4994]

Just couldn't love this channel more. Keep up the good work.

[@whoknows8264]

I enjoy how the questions are becoming more specific over time.

[@aliali-ce3yf]

the central asian countries are fascinating to me - we rarely learn anything about them in detail - culture, language, landmarks, etc

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

Map Makers during the fall of the USSR: “Another batch of maps made obsolete.”

[@mrsigmagrinder8737]

Napoleon is a hoi4 gamer???

[@danielbishop1863]

This was a problem for the "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego" TV game show (1991-96).

[@crownprincesebastianjohano7069]

Pitt sympathizes. A little something called Austerlitz made the map-makers quite busy. Except the old maps were never used again, rather than just ten years.

[@mnemonicpie]

This actually means new sales for them, it's not a communist world, bro

[@Crimson_Dusk]

0:56 Star Wars prequels will never stop slipping into real life

[@joz6683]

Great video as always. An interesting alt history is what if the CIS had survived.

[@igorsmihailovs52]

But, Gorbachev didn't advocate for the USSR "as it was before"! He wanted to reform it noticeably. It's just that most of the people in that time wasn't satisfied with anything less than independence.

[@Specificify]

gorbachov destroyed it for his personal profit and is now rich and owns a generic globalist philantrophic organization that spreads "human rights" (subjugation to the west) across the globe

[@Phil-ui4tm]

Gorbachev probably was right. Remember Russia quickly devolved into the Wild East, with thousands of murders by criminal gangs trying to takeover the new capitalist economy. They really needed a slow transition with better regulations.

[@Samuel-wm1xr]

most people were satisfied with just reforms until the Moscow coup attempt occurred which led to widespread panic that reforms will be reversed. Only after the coup attempt did people turn towards independence

[@J-1410]

0:12 Interesting detail on Belarus's flag

[@harveya1a952]

Kazakhstan was like that guy in the meeting call who’s still there after everyone left

[@redactedplayer8826]

bro when I was studying about the cold war I looked on youtube cold war memes and I see Kazakhstan being soviet union I didn't understand it but now I do and by the way your doing great I always learn something new when you upload something new

[@saiaoie]

Imagine if Kazakhstan never left the USSR and just remained as the whole Soviet Union to this day?

[@twilightgarrison3671]

After seeing that life hasn’t improved very much since 1991 I could see Russia, Transnistria, and Belarus probably rejoining. I can imagine Ukraine probably rejoining as well due to protests about poor living conditions in Capitalist Ukraine. The Ukrainian people seeing their old Country and brothers right on the border trying to rebuild from the Capitalist disaster of the late 80’s-90’s could have sparked revolts in the 2000’s to rejoin and become an SSR again.

[@twilightgarrison3671]

If the USSR were to rebuild though there would be anti Russification protests as nationalism is deeply anti Communist and that was one issue the USSR had. The SU should have embraced their diversity more as a strength any Communist would agree with this as it was a legitimate mistake.

[@chingis1154]

Kazakhstan wasn't interested on being communist. They wanted capitalist with some democracy and nazarbayev was opposed by communist friends. Ukraine would never want commies and ussr. Belarus maybe, but Eltsin would eventually beat up commies and nationalists like how he did in 1993 in real life. Belarus also didn't liked communism before lukashenko. So it would be "ussr" with capitalism, and nearly same problems in 90s Kazakhstan had because commie economy that they got from ussr was shitty

[@jongreen9171]

I remember one of my teachers saying that the CIS only existed for the purpose of competing in the Euro '92 football championship. They consequently lost to Scotland and were eliminated at the group stage.

[@johnchibona8807]

This topic has always piqued my interest. Thanks for the video 👍. Keep it up.

[@AdamE96]

Love the subtle Star Wars reference with the Separatist C.I.S and their emblem at 1:00. 😆

[@justname4556]

As a kazakh, It's glad to see that people are curious about Kazakhstan in USSR. Алға Қазақстан!

[@ajik-ruijie]

how are you doing?

[@teh-maxh]

Would it be possible to argue that, because the people who were involved in the decision to dissolve the USSR were no longer Soviet citizens, they did not actually have authority to make that decision?

[@JuanManuel-ii1ov]

The dissolution was illegal from the start, the majority of the soviet citizens voted to keep the union.

[@kaviakbayev2480]

They were user citizens...

[@kaviakbayev2480]

@@JuanManuel-ii1ov well soviet union was established illegally itself. Moreover, a lot depends on how you organize the voting, what kind of options you give to people. In addition, majority is really different, e.g. majority of Baltic States were against soviet onion

[@JuanManuel-ii1ov]

@@kaviakbayev2480 if that would have been the case, then the baltic states could have left and the others republics stayed, but the whole country was destroyed. On an economic and humanitarian level, most (if not all) of the succesor states haven't even recovered yet.

[@hugoleonardoamaral586]

That was actually a question I've asked myself, thanks History Matters!

[@adamlakeman7240]

The Soviet Union/Russian Empire didn't so much end in Central Asia as it went home. The local party bosses simply changed their titles to President and went on much the same as they always had, with varying consequences depending on the craziness of the relevant president.

[@fanteasy7399]

We got lucky to change presidents, from a long time chad dictator Nazarbayev to former Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations and professional diplomat Tokayev. Meanwhile in Russia, Putin became an eternal emperor and presumably went crazy lmao

[@AK-74K]

This isn't true. Transition from communism to an ultra nationalistic dictatorship didn't happen overnight, it took about 20 years

[@BM-ur4je]

: Tokayev, though authoritarian and brutal in his handling of the Jan uprising, still more liberal leaning (to avoid using "westward") and intellectual and modern than predecessor.

[@Burvedys]

Actually, the USSR was formed in 1922, not 1917.

[@Queen_Miku]

yea that was when it was RSFSR lol

[@TheLocalLt]

This is not true, it’s actually a common misconception, these states which declared their independence had no actual sovereignty until December 25 when the Soviet Union officially dissolved - before then the Soviet Military command structure was still in place and retained control on the ground, plus there was still small scale violence against some of the republics trying to declare independence (there were at least a couple incidents in both the Baltics and Caucasus). Only on December 25, 1991, with the dissolution of the Soviet command structure and transfer of all Russian units to the Russian Army, did all of these countries fully gain sovereignty. Only at this point, for example, would the new states appear on a map of defacto control, such as the Apolitical World Map.

[@mpforeverunlimited]

Indepence is usually marked by when it was declared, not when it's actually attained (assuming the state actually becomes independent). For example in my country our independence day is july 4th 1776 but that day was merely when we declared it. Afterwards we had a war for independence which lasted until the 1780s. I don't believe we were actually independent until 1781, but nobody really cares or is even really aware of that. I always considered it a bit strange though

[@lordloss3398]

@@mpforeverunlimited that is normal because that is the day your country became independent. Whether the overlord recognises it or not, once you stopped following their orders you were independent. Being independent for a nation depends on its people not the heads of state.

[@greghall4836]

By the time the Soviet Union officially disolved, Gorbatjov wasn't really in control of anything. He could order the Soviet flag lowered from the Kremlin and that was pretty much it. When Soviet forces clashed with Armenians in 1991 it was not an attempt to prevent Armenian independence, it was an attempt to prevent an Armenian invasion of Azerbaijan, something which they proved incapable of. From a legalistic viewpoint you are free to chose between December the 25th or the dates of independence declarations of individual states, or even the dates when their indepence were recognised by a third party country of your choice. From a practical standpoint however, the Soviet Union didn't disolve on any particular date, it was a much longer process.

[@fgsaramago]

@@mpforeverunlimited thats not at all always the case. Normally other countries will consider another country's independence as the day when the UN, a similar authority that preceded it, or the closest equivalent of that that can be had recognized it as such. For instance here in Portugal we consider the USA independence day the day Portugal recognized it. Not because we did it, but because it was the first neutral country to do so, legitimizing the country as such. The earliest generations of American leaders likewise didnt put the almost exlusive emphasis on the 1776 date, regarding the aforementioned date alongside a couple others as on an almost similar standing

[@BeingFireRetardant]

Right... The whole thing really calls into question what a nation actually is, what defines sovereignty, what is independance ? Is it because a handful of delegates decided to declare something they could in no physical way enforce? Is it when another nation decides you exist, and formally 'recognizes' you? Is it when a people group, seeking self determination, seeks to pursue a separate path from within a country that 'owns' them? Is it military power, or might, say in a rebellion, and battlefield victory changes political conditions so substantially that a new government must be founded? Is it pieces of parchment, meant to define a country through ideas, and set a functional legal framework in place that suddenly legitimizes what a nation is? Because, largely depending on how one answers those kinds of questions... Determines whether those seeking self rule are being treasonous and seditious, or liberating the oppressed people in the aim of individual sovereignty.

[@valiantredneck]

Great video as always. Thank you James.

[@Dalynx09]

The question we all asked and the answer we all desired, finally, we can rest in peace

[@alexandrekuritza5685]

so can the ussr lol

[@nickmacarius3012]

Loving the small detail that on the Commonwealth of Independent States that the logo of the Confederacy of Independent Systems from Star Wars was used. Well done! 👍

[@abishorynbassarov1274]

There is another fun explanation In 16th december, 1986 there was a massive uprising in Almaty, which ended with brutal repressions. This was one of the turning points for kazakh independence. Untill this day, it is rememebered. May be, they decided to wait 4 days in 1991, so the dates would match

[@Sir_Squirrel_TheIV]

I love how you added the Star Wars CIS symbol on the bottom right

[@hagrid1123]

James bissonette personally dismantled the Soviet Union by himself

[@youtubeaccount5153]

Thank you. Again. For another excellent presentation of interesting information.

[@gallivantingsprt]

The Russians for years been doubting Kazakhstan's chances to survive. 30 years later Kazakhstan: - GDP size #2 after Russia (overtook Ukraine and Belarus before war and revolution) - GDP per capita #1 (overtook Russia) - the only investment grade country in the region (apart from the Baltics) - solid FX reserves, huge accumulated FDI, strong budget - Home to Russians fleeing their own country.

[@LightoZtriker]

I always Have Wondered Why. Thanks For This Video.

[@haronka]

2:21 R.I.P.

[@digitalastana]

All the best from Kazakhstan!

[@AlreadyTakenTag]

In an alternate universe we all still call Kazakhstan the Soviet Union

[@YordanN_2]

1:02 I like how you put Star Wars reference.

[@logion567]

another reason Moscow was still allowed a seat at the security council (iirc) was they agreed to take on the foreign debt of the now dead USSR. which acts in stark contrast to the USSR *not* taking on the tsars debt.

[@CidVeldoril]

I mean, if Russia had not been granted a seat with the huge nuclear arsenal it has, the UN might as well be meaningless. The Security Council's main job is to prevent nuclear job between the US and Russia.

[@thezipcreator]

@@CidVeldoril I think you meant nuclear war

[@雷-t3j]

@@CidVeldoril The security councils job is to represent the interests of the powers that won WW2. Russia's nuclear arsenal doesn't mean much when they aren't a superpower, and India should definitely have a seat at the UNSC

[@CidVeldoril]

@@雷-t3j Who really decides what a superpower is? If there is such a thing as a superpower, a nation with the destructive capability to destroy the entire world either counts or the word has no meaning.

[@geoffreystill1038]

Not many people may have gotten your CIS Star Wars reference.... but I did and I loved it!

[@chegeny]

Thanks. After seeing Bald and Bankrupt YT channel's Benjamin Rich travel through Kazakstan to find the old USSR Buran space shuttles, I was curious why Kazakhstan kept them and were guarded by Russian military police.

[@silenthunteruk]

Russia got Baikonur leased to them.

[@wfmikeie]

It's crazy how this happened overwhelmingly peacefully.

[@kalechips4564]

Thank you very much for turning so many Quora-esque history questions into easily digestible videos

[@Mitchmeow]

That little Confederacy of Independent Systems logo was gold, well done as usual!

[@NovikNikolovic]

oh god, imagine the USSR still existed but it's only Kazakhstan and Transnistria

[@oliversherman2414]

I love your channel keep up the great stuff

[@BOABModels]

It kind of suggests Kazakhstan should have kept the position on the UN security council!

[@josecano9210]

1:03 love the Star Was reference

[@abrvalg321]

2:43 USSR was founded in 1922 not 1917.

[@ValueNetwork]

I like how you used the logo of the separatists/CIS from the Star Wars prequels for the actual CIS at 1:02

[@Stant123]

I've always found it funny that where the UN is concerned, when the Soviet Union went away, Russia stepped in claiming all of the Soviet's seats as their own saying they were the de facto power so the seats were always theirs, especially the permanent seat on the security council. Everybody just sort of shrugged and let it happen. Kazakhstan, still being a Soviet State after Russia left the Soviet Union, is actually the country that deserved all of those seats, at least for those 4 days they were the last piece of the Soviet Union, and then those permanent seats should have been dissolved too.

[@雷-t3j]

honestly, Russia shouldn't have a seat, and if it does get one then India, Indonesia, Brazil, and South Africa deserve one as well.

[@furchickenstrips149]

you forget that Russia legally became the successor of USSR, including debt obligations. Other former republics left with a clean credit history

[@3dcomrade]

@@雷-t3j the UNSC now is meant to provide 2 East blocks(China, Russia), 1 neutral(France), 2 West blocks(UK,USA)

[@Seriona1]

No that's not how it works. The UN gives your seat to your successors based on who truly represents your people. Russia has given the seat because everyone knew that USSR was mostly Russian so it made sense. This is why Republic of China (Taiwan) lost their seat to People Republic of China because the UN felt that the PRC represented the Chinese better than the legitimate government which is KMT.

[@alparslankorkmaz2964]

Nicely explained.

[@sskuk1095]

Kazakhstan: "Look at me! I'm the Soviet union now!"

[@factz124]

the best history channel

[@OneAndOnlyTheGreat]

The USSR was so big that even when Kazakhstan remained, it was the 9th largest country. 2:35

[@SamAronow]

2:30 Congratulations on making a sort-of-recognizable James Baker!

[@leonardorivelorivelo9253]

1:02 I dont even know If that was a Star Wars reference or the actual real deal and this made me laugh

[@sundhaug92]

Definite Star Wars reference

[@universal267]

i like your videos without watching because i know that you never publish bad videos!

[@Dskskdnk]

new ending: Kazakhstan didn't left ussr and and Gorbachev became president of Kazakhstan

[@odintheallfather4863]

Love how he snuck the CIS symbol from Star Wars into the corner 1:03

[@timesnewlogan2032]

1:17 Was that a sign, or a skull?

[@GamerTA13]

A skull

[@Sir_Humphrey_Appleby]

1:03 I liked the Star Wars prequels reference