In 1990, following
Croatian multi-party elections and victory of the
Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), ethnic tensions between
Croats and
Serbs worsened. On 17 August 1990, an
insurrection began in areas of the
Republic of Croatia which were populated significantly by
ethnic Serbs. The organizers were armed with illegal weapons supplied by
Milan Martić. In anticipation of a declaration of Croatian independence, Croatian Serb leaders created an autonomous region around the city of
Knin. The
Serbian National Council (SNV) was formed, functioning as a parliament for the region and as the ultimate authority on Croatian Serbs. It organized a successful referendum on autonomy in August. Initially, this region was dubbed the SAO Kninska Krajina in September 1990, but, after joining with the Association of Municipalities of Northern
Dalmatia and
Lika, it was renamed and proclaimed as SAO Krajina in December 1990. On February 28, 1991 the SAO Krajina was officially declared. Afterwards the Krajina assembly declared that "the territory of the SAO Krajina is a constitutive part of the unified territory of the Republic of Serbia". This self-proclaimed SAO Krajina was dissolved after August 5, 1995 when Croatian armed forces reintegrated its territories into Croatia. == See also ==