TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA Z. K. GAMSAKHURDIA

Many appeals are addressed to the Supreme Council of the USSR and to the President of the country. They express the concern of people regarding the difficult situation in Tskhinvali and in South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast as a whole. The boeviks are acting brutally, the victims are among both, Ossetian and Georgian populations; tens of villages are given to arson; the peaceful citizens are expelled and thousands of refugees are facing the hardship.

Confirming the decision of the supreme authorities of the country, I offer to take immediate steps to stop bloodshed, put an end to the boeviks’ conduct, prevent the settlements from being seized and devastated, and start negotiations.

M. Gorbachev

30 March 1991

(Newspaper “Georgian Messenger”, # 50, 3 April 1991)