DECREE ISSUED BY THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE ABKHAZ ASSR on holding All Union referendum in the Abkhaz ASSR

Abkhazia is a multi-national republic. Only consideration of views of all the residents of Abkhazia and their joint effort can be the guarantors to maintain peace and harmony here.

In accordance with the “Human Rights Declaration”, every citizen shall have the right to expression on any vital important issues.

Participation of citizens in the All-Union referendum is their undeniable right.

Proceeding from the aforementioned, the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR decrees:

To participate on 17 March 1991 in the public referendum on reservation of the USSR.

To entrust the electoral commission # 669 on election of deputies of the Supreme Council of the USSR with a task of holding referendum on necessity of the reservation of the USSR.

To entrust Sukhumi, Gagra, Tkvarcheli, Gudauta, Sukhumi district and Gulripshi district electoral commissions with a task of holding All-Union referendum.

The Central Electoral Commission of the Republic shall establish the district electoral commissions for holding the referendum in Ochamchire and Gali district.

This Decree shall come into force since its publication.

Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR V. Ardzinba

28 February 1991

(Newspaper “Sovetskaia Abkhazia”, # 35, 2 March 1991)