HL Deb 04 November 1993 vol 549 c138WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether President Yeltsin informed them of his intention to abolish the lawfully elected parliament of his country and suspend its constitutional court, and if so what was their response.

Baroness Chalker of Wallasey

President Yeltsin announced his intention to dissolve Parliament and outlined his plans for constitutional reform on 21 September. We were informed of this decision through our Embassy in Moscow very shortly before the announcement was made. The constitutional court was suspended following the armed insurrection pending the parliamentary elections in December and the adoption of a new constitution. We were not informed in advance.