DECREE ISSUED BY THE PRESIDIUM OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE ABKHAZ ASSR on Certain Acts Issued by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Georgia

On 31 July of 1991 the Ministry of Education of the Georgian SSR issued the Order #343 that prohibits the Ministry of Education of the Abkhaz ASSR, heads of Departments of Education of cities and regions, directors (managers) of non-Georgian pre-school establishments and secondary schools to enroll in non-Georgian pre-school establishment and first class of secondary school a single child of Georgian nationality.

The mixed matrimony is a characteristic trait for multinational Abkhazia.  Therefore, the children not always speak the language of nationality they belong to and due to objective reasons not a Georgian language is native one for them.  Implementation of this law will establish serious impediments to the normal development of a child.  The right to choose the language of education,  in any cases, remains under the competence of parents.  The Orders, like the aforementioned, violate the human rights and take anti-democratic and anti-human character.

The executive institutions of the Republic of Georgia widely exercise attempt to interfere within the sphere of exclusive competence of the Abkhaz ASSR;  in accordance with the Order #288 of the Ministry of Education of 5 July 1991, the Ministry of Education of the Abkhaz ASSR is instructed to introduce the new seal, stamp and signboards, in accordance with the attached samples, to all educational establishments.  Therefore, and pursuant to this document,  Abkhazia is obliged to have the seal, stamp and signboards at all educational establishments that introduce the affiliation of the establishment exclusively to the Republic of Georgia and the Ministry of Education of Georgia without mentioning the title of the autonomous republic.

The Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR decrees:

1.  To consider null and void on the territory of the Abkhaz ASSR the Order #342 of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Georgia.

2. To consider null and void on the territory of the Abkhaz ASSR the Regulations on introduction new seal, stamp and signboards to all educational establishments attached to the Order #288 of 5 July 1991 of the Ministry of Education of Georgia.

3.  The city and district division of interior (militia), as well as the Department of Interior Affairs shall prevent producing the seals and stamps considered in the Regulations.

4.  The Ministry of Education of the Republic of Georgia shall elaborate in two-month term and submit to the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR the programme aimed at improving the quality of teaching of national languages  in pre-school establishments and in schools of Abkhazia.

5. The Ministry of Education of the Abkhaz ASSR shall exercise its function in compliance with the Decree #31 of 24 January of 1989 issued by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Abkhaz ASSR, Order #149 of 26 July of 1988 issued by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Abkhaz ASSR, as well as other legal acts issued by the Cabinet of Ministers and the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR, state and executive educational organs of the USSR.

Henceforth the decisions and acts adopted by the Ministry of Education and other state organs of the Republic of Georgia pertinent to the educational sphere shall be implemented only after getting approval of the Supreme Council and the Cabinet of Ministers of the Abkhaz ASSR.

(…)

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

27 September 1991

(Newspaper “Respublika Abkhazia”, # 13, 10 October 1991)