Using WHO “Health for all” database we looked at suicide rates in 15 former USSR republics up to latest data. Since A.Värnik and D.Wasserman in the end of 90s have described an effect of anti-alcohol campaign during “perestroika”, in the period from 1991-1992 to 1995-1996 there was a sharp rise in suicide rates in the majority of new independent states. Two main clusters can be distinguished: 1) countries with prevailing ethno-cultural factor (Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, partly Republic of Moldova) - general rise was not so marked or did not happen, highest rates were registered in Soviet times and even painful period of transition did not cause higher suicidal activity; 2) countries with prevailing economic factor (Baltic countries, Belarus, Russian Federation, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan) - on the contrary, lowest rates were registered in the Soviet times and maximums were achieved after USSR split. These are mostly industrial countries and dramatic rise in suicides may be attributed to severe economic problems and “shock therapy”. Since 1994-1996 and especially after 2001 in these countries a gradual lowering of suicide rates started, which may be attributed to overcoming main economic difficulties. However in the Russian Federation there was a sharp rise in 1999, shortly after default in summer of 1998. Emerging of new independent states on the world map made it possible to see the interplay of economical, social, political and ethno-cultural factors in provoking (or protecting) populations from suicidal behavior in the transition periods.