In a significant escalation of political turmoil in Russia, President Boris Yeltsin suspended the parliament on September 21, 1993, and declared the existing constitution void. This dramatic move stemmed from an ongoing power struggle between Yeltsin, who sought to introduce radical economic reforms and liberalize the Russian political system, and a conservative parliament that resisted his initiatives. Yeltsin's bold action ignited a fierce debate about the balance of power in a post-Soviet nation still grappling with identity and governance following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Yeltsin's decree stipulated the establishment of a new constitution and a call for early elections, effectively seeking to bypass the parliament's authority. The abrupt suspension alarmed many in the political sphere, leading to protests by lawmakers and their supporters who declared Yeltsin's actions unconstitutional. As tensions escalated, the conflict quickly polarized; supporters of Yeltsin and those championing the parliament prepared for confrontation, reflecting deeper societal divisions over the future of Russian governance.

The situation spiraled into conflict in the following weeks, culminating in a standoff between Yeltsin's forces and the parliament's supporters barricaded inside the White House, the parliament's headquarters in Moscow. The crisis eventually led to the armed confrontation in October, after which Yeltsin would assert control, marking a significant turning point in Russian politics and paving the way for a new constitution that defined presidential powers in the emerging Russian Federation.