| Coa Caption: | Emblem of the Estonian SSR |
| Succeeded By: | Riigikogu |
| Meeting Place: | Toompea Castle in Tallinn, Estonia |
| Last Election1: | 1990 |
| Preceded By: | Riigikogu |
| Disbanded: | 1941 (German occupation) 1992 |
| Established: | 1940 (First Soviet occupation) 1944 (1947) (Second Soviet occupation) |
| House Type: | Supreme Soviet[1] |
| Legislature: | (1940–1941, 1944–1990) Estonia (1990–1992) |
| Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR | |
| Leader2: | Arnold Rüütel --> |
| Voting System1: | Sham elections (1940–1985) Direct single transferable vote (1990) |
The Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR (Estonian: Eesti NSV Ülemnõukogu) was the formal rubber stamp legislative body of the Estonian SSR without any substantive meaning, which was formally elected in general elections, but whose members were essentially appointed by the leadership of the Communist Party. Before 1988, the Supreme Soviet had no meaningful political role.[2] After its first democratic elections on 18 March 1990, the institution was renamed the Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia on 8 May 1990.[3]
The structure and formal functions of the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR were copied from the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union. The sessions of the Supreme Soviet lasted only several days twice a year and decisions were made unanimously and without much discussion. Supreme Soviet elections were held after every four years until 1978 and were held every five years in 1978–1985.[4] The Supreme Soviet gathered in Tallinn, in the Toompea Castle building which now houses the Riigikogu (as it did in interwar Estonia).
| Portrait | Chairman | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voldemar Sassi | 25 August 1940 | 1941 | ||
| August Kründel | 5 March 1947 | 14 January 1953 | ||
| Joosep Saat | 5 April 1955 | 23 April 1959 | ||
| Harald Ilves | 23 April 1959 | 18 April 1963 | ||
| Vaino Väljas | 18 April 1963 | 20 April 1967 | ||
| Arnold Koop | 20 April 1967 | 18 December 1968 | ||
| Ilmar Vahe | 18 December 1968 | 4 July 1975 | ||
| Johannes Lott | 4 July 1975 | 13 December 1978 | ||
| Jüri Suurhans | 13 December 1978 | 5 July 1982 | ||
| Matti Pedak | 5 July 1982 | 27 March 1985 | ||
| Valde Roosmaa | 27 March 1985 | 18 May 1989 | ||
| Enn-Arno Sillari | 18 May 1989 | 28 March 1990 | ||
| Ülo Nugis[5] | 29 March 1990 | 6 October 1992 |
The presidium was the permanent body of the Supreme Soviet. Its chairman was the de jure head of state of Estonian SSR.
The chairmen of the presidium were:[6]
| President | From | To | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johannes Vares | 25 August 1940 | 29 November 1946 | First President of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet | |
| Eduard Päll | 5 March 1947 | 4 July 1950 | ||
| August Jakobson | 4 July 1950 | 4 February 1958 | ||
| Johan Eichfeld | 4 February 1958 | 12 October 1961 | ||
| Aleksei Müürisepp | 12 October 1961 | 7 October 1970 | ||
| Artur Vader | 22 December 1970 | 25 May 1978 | ||
| Johannes Käbin | 26 July 1978 | 8 April 1983 | ||
| Arnold Rüütel | 8 April 1983 | 28 March 1990 | Last President of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet |