DECREE ISSUED BY THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE RSFSR on Immediate assistance to the population of the North Ossetia in connection with the events in the Autonomous Oblast of South Ossetia

Since January of 1991 the population in the South Ossetian autonomous Oblast of the Georgian SSR is facing extremely grave economic condition due to erupted military conflict there. Food supply to the center of Tskhinvali has been cut off for a long time; there is a lack of medicines and bandages; many people have lost their houses; thousands have sought refuge in the territory of the RSFSR, in the North Ossetia. Currently the electricity supply is cut off in the city Tskhinvali and there is no water supply either. Such extreme situation puts the population at the edge of catastrophe. The situation in other regions of the autonomous Oblast is similar as in Tskhinvali. Situation established in the South Ossetian Autonomous oblast also raises the tension in the neighboring regions of the RSFSR.

Taking into consideration the growing tense in the South Ossetian Autonomous oblast and the fact that Union agencies do not take efficient measures to assist the region, the Supreme council of the RSFSR decrees:

1. To entrust the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the RSFSR with a task of entering into negotiations with the leadership of the Republic of Georgia in order to give to the conflict a peaceful resolution.

2. The Council of Ministers of the RSFSR in three days time shall determine for, and provide to the population of the North Ossetia necessary economic and humanitarian aid, in particular:

- Food, medicines, tents, fuel and oil supply;

- Technical and technological assistance to arrange telephone and telegraphs connection with the regions of the North Caucasus of the RSFSR.

First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council of the RSFSR R. I. Khasbulatov

8 February 1991

(Bulletin of the Congress of the People’s Deputies of the RSFSR and the Supreme Council of the RSFSR, M., 1991, # 7, p. 123-124)