DECREE ISSUED BY THE PRESIDIUM OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE GEORGIAN SSR on Decision Taken on 20 September 1990 by the Oblast Council of the People’s Deputies of the Autonomous Oblast of the South Ossetia

Having addressed the decision taken by the Oblast Council of the Peoples’ Deputies of the Autonomous Oblast of the South Ossetia on Sovereignty and Political Status of the South Ossetia, the Supreme Council of the Georgian SSR regards the aforementioned decision, aimed at changing the nation-state and administrative-territorial arrangement of the Georgian SSR, violation of the state sovereignty of Georgia, as an absolutely groundless step and constitutes the gross violation of constitutions of the Georgian SSR and the USSR, as well as violation of the law on the Peoples’ Deputies of the Autonomous Oblast of the South Ossetia.

At the same time, the session was held under intense pressure of those persons who are not deputies and in gross violation of the constitutional and procedural norms. Such a decision, taken in gross violation of the Constitution of the Republic is groundless and unacceptable not only in legal terms, but also runs counter to the best interests of all people residing in Georgia and may provoke inter-ethnic tension.

The Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Georgian SSR decrees:

1. To declare the decision taken on 20 September 1990 by the Oblast Council of the

Peoples’ Deputies of the Autonomous Oblast of the South Ossetia on Sovereignty and Political Status of the South Ossetia as null and void and having no legal force.

2. To entrust the Oblast Council of the Peoples’ Deputies of the Autonomous Oblast of the South Ossetia and its Executive Committee, with a task of taking all necessary measure aimed at securing strict adherence to the requirements of the Constitutions of the USSR and the Georgian SSR and the law on the Peoples’ Deputies of the Autonomous Oblast of the South Ossetia;

3. Conclusions of the special Committee on the political status of the Autonomous Oblast of South Ossetia - set up on 18 November 1988 pursuant to the decree by the Supreme Council of the Georgian SSR - shall be sent to the Oblast Council of the Peoples’ Deputies of the Autonomous Oblast of the South Ossetia.

Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Georgian SSR G. Gumbaridze

Secretary of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Georgian SSR V. Kvaratskhelia

21 September 1990

(Bulletin of the Supreme Council of the Georgian SSR, 1990, # 9, p. 9)