The coat of arms of the Karelian ASSR was similar to the emblem of the Russian SFSR.

[2] At a meeting of the Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the Karelian ASSR on 29 December 1937, it was decided to remove the Finnish language inscription in the emblem.

[2] This happened due to the reprisals against the Finns in the Karelian ASSR in the second half of 1937.

The 1978 Constitution of the Karelian ASSR confirmed the emblem and the flag of the republic on the article 157 and 158.

[2] Regulations on the emblem were adopted by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Karelian ASSR in 1981.