DECREE ISSUED BY THE PRESIDIUM OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA on the Fact of Holding the USSR Referendum on the Territory of the Republic of Georgia and on Election of a Deputy to the Peoples’ Deputies of the USSR in the # 669 Sukhumi constituency

On 28 February 1991 the Supreme Council of the Republic of Georgia issued the decree that the referendum, fixed to be held on 17 March 1991 by the decree of the Supreme Council of the USSR would not take place on the territory of the Republic of Georgia. In addition, on March 16, 1991 the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Georgia abolished the election commission of the # 669 Sukhumi constituency of the elections for Peoples’ Deputies of the USSR.

However, on 17 March 1991 the referendum took place in the units of the USSR armed forces deployed on the territory of the Republic of Georgia, as well as in town of Tskhinvali, Java region, and some districts of the Abkhaz ASSR, while elections of a deputy to the People’s Deputies of the USSR were held in the # 669 Sukhumi constituency.

During the Referendum and elections, provisions of the laws on “ Referendum in the USSR” and “Elections to the People’s Deputies of the USSR” were grossly violated. At the same time, names of more than 50 thousand electorate of the Gali district were not incorporated in the voting lists.

The aforementioned facts of violations are being studied and investigated by the Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Georgia. However, the Prosecutor General of USSR ordered to suspend the investigation.

The Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Georgia decrees:

1. Pursuant to Article 77 of the Constitution of the Republic of Georgia, the decree issued

 on 28 February 1991 by the Supreme Council of the Republic of Georgia and the decree issued on 16 March 1991 by the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Georgia, results of referendum held on 17 March 1991 on the territory of Abkhazian ASSR, town of Tskhinvali and Java region and results of elections of a deputy to the Peoples’ Deputies of the USSR  held in the # 669 Sukhumi constituency on 17 March 1991 are declared null and void.

2. The Referendum of the USSR held within the Military Units of the USSR deployed on the territory of Georgia shall not be considered as the Referendum held in Georgia, as the Soviet military servicemen are not eligible in voting on the territory of Georgia.

4. To raise the issue before the Central Electoral Commission on consideration null and void the results of the election held on 17 March of 1991 at the electoral district #669.

5. To put forward a proposal to the Central Referendum Commission to consider the results of referendum held on the territory of the Republic of Georgia as null and void.

Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Georgia  Z. Gamsakhurdia

22 March 1991

(Bulletin of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Georgia, # 3, 1991, p. 24-26)