1993 Russian government referendum

A four-part referendum (also known in Russia as "Yes, yes, no, yes") was held in Russia on 25 April 1993.^[1] Voters were asked questions on confidence in President Boris Yeltsin, support for the government's socio-economic policies and early elections for both the presidency and parliament.^[1] The referendum was initiated by the Congress of People's Deputies, which stipulated that Yeltsin would need to obtain 50% of the electorate rather than 50% of valid votes. The Constitutional Court ruled that the president required only a simple majority on two issues (confidence in him and economic and social policy) but that he would still needed the support of more than half the electorate in order to call new parliamentary and presidential elections.

Four questions – confidence in Yeltsin, support for the government's socio-economic policies, and early elections for the Congress of People's Deputies and President – were approved by a majority of participating voters. However, the proposals for early elections for the Congress of People's Deputies and President failed due to the quorum of 50% of all registered voters not being met.

The referendum was a part of series of events amidst the increasing conflict between Yeltsin and the Russian parliament, which led to the 1993 Russian constitutional crisis.