At 23:02 on the evening of 20 August 1991, during a live broadcast carried out by Estonian Television, the Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia voted on the confirm of its Restoration of Independence.[9]
DECISION OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL
OF THE REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA
On the national independence of Estonia
Based on the continuity of the Republic of Estonia as a subject of international law,
drawing upon the Estonian population’s declaration of intent clearly expressed in the 3 March 1991 referendum to restore the national independence of the Republic of Estonia,
given the 30 March 1990 decision of the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR “on the National Status of Estonia” and the declaration of the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR “on the Cooperation of the Supreme Soviet of the Estonian SSR and the Congress of Estonia,”
taking into account that the coup which has taken place in the Soviet Union poses a serious threat to the democratic processes taking place in Estonia and has rendered impossible the restoration of the national independence of the Republic of Estonia by means of bilateral negotiations with the Soviet Union,
the Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia has decided:
1. To confirm the national independence of the Republic of Estonia and seek the restoration of diplomatic relations of the Republic of Estonia.
2. To establish the Constitutional Assembly for the development and submission to referendum of the Constitution of Estonia, the composition of which will be shaped by delegation from the highest legislative organ of state power of the Republic of Estonia, the Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia, and the representative body of the citizenry of Estonia, the Congress of Estonia.
3. To hold parliamentary elections according to the new Constitution of the Republic of Estonia in the year 1992.
Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia A. RÜÜTEL
Tallinn, 20 August 1991.
Out of the 105 delegates of the Supreme Council 70 were present, 69 voted in favour of the restoration. Two delegates, Klavdia Sergij and Kaido Kama, did not register to vote and walked out before voting began. Those who voted in favour of the restoration were:[10]