DECREE ISSUED BY THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE ABKHAZ ASSR on the Law of the Republic of Georgia  On Introduction of Changes and Amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Georgia

The Law of the Republic of Georgia of 31 July 1991 “On Introduction of Changes and Amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Georgia”, expanding the authority of the President of the Republic of Georgia, entitled him with the right to suspend the laws of the Abkhaz ASSR and returning them back to the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic for reconsideration and adoption with a two-thirds of votes. In addition to the aforementioned, the amendments and changes to the Constitution entitled him with a right of suspension of those decrees of the Supreme Council and the Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia that contradict to the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Georgia.

The Law on “Introduction of Changes and Amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Georgia” was adopted in violation of the current Constitution of the Abkhaz ASSR, according to which the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR is entitled to independently decide on all issues under its competence by simple majority of deputies of the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR.

Taking into account the fact, that the Law of the Republic of Georgia on “Introduction of Changes and Amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Georgia” was adopted in a unilateral manner and in violation of the sovereignty of Abkhazia, the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR decrees:

1. To consider the Law of the Republic of Georgia on “ Introduction of Changes and Amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Georgia” as having no legal force and not subject to implementation.

2. In order to stabilize the situation and avoid inter-ethnic tensions, to immediately dispatch Comr. V.G. Kolbaia - First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR  to the Republic of Georgia in order to put forward proposal on abrogation of legal acts, adopted in violation of the Constitution of the Abkhaz ASSR.

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

27 August  1991

(Personal Archive of the Author)