Decree time
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Decree time (Russian: Декретное время) refers to the changes introduced to the USSR time system by a Sovnarkom decree of 16 June 1930. By this decree, all clocks in the Soviet Union were permanently shifted one hour ahead of standard time for each timezone.
It is independent from Daylight Saving Time, which was introduced in the USSR much later, in 1981. In fact, with both time shifts in effect, summer time was two hours ahead of standard time in the USSR.
From 1982 to 1986, decree time was gradually abolished by the USSR government in 30 oblasts and autonomous Republics of the Russian SFSR. In 1990, it was further abolished in Ukraine, Moldavia, Georgia and Azerbaijan, followed by the entire territory of the Soviet Union in March 1991 (eight months before its dissolution).
On 23 October 1991, the Supreme Soviet of the Russian SFSR ruled to restore decree time in Russia. It was restored on 19 January 1992, except for the following federal subjects:
- Astrakhan Oblast
- Kirov Oblast
- Novosibirsk Oblast
- Samara Oblast
- Saratov Oblast
- Udmurtia
- Volgograd Oblast
