USSR Constitution 1977

Chapter 8, Article 71 lists all 15 Union Republics and Chapter 8, Article 72 immediately after in black & white and very clearly reads: "Each Union Republic retains the right to secede from USSR".

This article above clearly states that ONLY Union Republics have right to secede from USSR, and NOT the Autonomous Republics, Autonomous Regions, and Autonomous Areas.

Chapter 9, Article 78 reads: “The territory of a Union Republic may NOT be altered without its consent. The boundaries between Union Republics may be altered by mutual agreement of the Republics concerned, subject to ratification by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.”

This article above makes it clear that NO Autonomous Republics, Autonomous Regions, and Autonomous Areas within its respective Union Republics have any authority to secede or self-determine without the Union Republic’s consent.

Chapter 9, Article 79: "A Union Republic shall determine its division into territories, regions, areas, districts and DECIDE other matters relating to its administrative and territorial structure."

Once again very clear that the Union Republics decide their own borders. And to reinstate this once again according to the Articles 82, 86 and 88 all the Autonomous Republics, Autonomous Regions, and Autonomous Areas are CONSTITUENT PARTS of their respective Union Republics.

So, Autonomous Republics, Autonomous Regions, and Autonomous Areas have NO rights to decide their own borders.

Chap.11, Art. 86: "An Autonomous Region is a constituent part of a Union Republic or Territory.The Supreme Soviet of the Union Republic has authority to adapt the Law about an Autonomous Region upon submission of such Law by Soviet of People's Deputies of the Autonomous Region"

This Chapter above, talks about the adoption of a law or a set of laws submitted by Soviet of People's Deputies of the Autonomous Region for consideration by their respective Union Republics, & explicitly states that it is up to the Supreme Soviet of the Union Republics to adapt

or reject the laws. By NO means Article 86 gives the Autonomous Republics, Autonomous Regions, and Autonomous Areas right to secede or self-determine. Whereas, Article 72 explicitly gives the right to the Union Republics to secede from USSR.

And NOTHING about secession or self-determination is written in this Ninth Convocation of the USSR Constitution in relationship to the Autonomous Republics, Autonomous Regions, and Autonomous Areas within the Union Republics or USSR.

I hope this helps to provide some clarity to people manipulating & twisting the language of the USSR Constitution. The answer is: NO – Nagorno-Karabakh under the USSR Constitution had NO rights to self-determine or secede from Azerbaijan SSR. Reference: https://www.prlib.ru/item/420919 

Lastly, this legal distinction btw. "has authority to adapt" vs. "shall be adopted" must be noted for accuracy. The word “принимать” translates as “to adopt”, whereas “shall be adopted”, which has a very specific legal definition translates into Russian as “должен быть принят”.

As such USSR Constitution under Article 86 by using word “принимать” gave authority to Union Republics to accept or reject a law or a set of laws submitted by their respective autonomous republics, autonomous regions and autonomous areas.