Which of the following countries was not part of the erstwhile USSR?

The correct answer is Bosnia.

Key Points

• Bosnia and Herzegovina was a republic within the former Yugoslavia, a socialist federation in Southeast Europe.
• Yugoslavia was an independent communist state led by Marshal Tito and was not aligned with the Soviet Union.
• The USSR and Yugoslavia had ideological differences, leading to Yugoslavia's expulsion from the Communist bloc in 1948.
• After the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, Bosnia became an independent nation following a brutal civil war.

Additional Information

• The USSR was formed in 1922 after the Russian Revolution and the Bolshevik victory in the Civil War.
• It consisted of 15 republics, which are now independent countries (e.g., Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan).
• The Soviet Union was a superpower during the Cold War, rivaling the United States in military and political influence.
• Its economy was centrally planned, with industries and agriculture controlled by the state.
• The USSR collapsed in 1991 due to economic struggles, nationalist movements, and political reforms (Glasnost & Perestroika).
• Some former Soviet republics (like the Baltics) joined Western alliances, while others (like Belarus) remained close to Russia.
• The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was formed after the USSR’s dissolution to maintain economic ties.
• Russia inherited the USSR’s nuclear arsenal and its permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
• Soviet influence persists in many post-USSR countries through language (Russian), trade, and military presence.
• The breakup of the USSR led to regional conflicts, including the Nagorno-Karabakh War and the Russo-Georgian War.
• Unlike Yugoslavia, which broke up due to ethnic wars, the USSR dissolved more through political and economic pressures.
• Bosnia’s history is tied to Slavic, Ottoman, and Austro-Hungarian rule, not Soviet communism.
• The USSR never included any part of the Balkans except for brief influence over Bulgaria and Romania during the Cold War.
• Armenia, Turkmenistan, and Latvia still have Russian minorities due to Soviet-era migration policies.
• The Baltic States (Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania) were the first to demand independence, accelerating the USSR’s collapse.
• Turkmenistan is one of the most isolated post-Soviet states, maintaining a strict authoritarian regime.
• Armenia remains dependent on Russia for security, especially due to its conflict with Azerbaijan.
• Latvia has fully integrated into Western institutions, unlike some other former Soviet republics.