DECREE ISSUED BY THE PRESIDIUM OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE ABKHAZ ASSR  on substantive exacerbation of the inter ethnic relations in the Abkhaz ASSR on account of unlawful attempt to establish Sukhumi branch of Tbilisi State University

The Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR notes that continuation of existence temporarily established Sukhumi branch of Tbilisi State University (TSU) evoked firm protest of a wide public and substantively exacerbated inter-ethnic relations in the autonomous republic.

Abkhaz Obcom (Oblast /District/ Committee -edit) of the Communist Party of Georgia, the Presidium and the Council of Ministers of the Abkhaz ASSR, assessing the established situation as extremely complicated, fraught with unpredictable consequences, have appealed to the leadership of Party and Soviet organs of the Union Republic (The Soviet Socialist Republic in the USSR -edit.) and the Country (the USSR - edit) with request to suspend the operation of the TSU branch established through separation of Georgian sector from A. Gorkiy Abkhaz State University (AGU) that will adversely affect to the educational process of the students and centuries-old Georgian and Abkhaz friendship, as well as representatives of other nationalities, those who live and work in peace on the Abkhaz soil.

Meanwhile the Party and Soviet organs of the autonomous republic have taken several steps to unite the separated Georgian sector with the AGU.

Thus, on 26 June of this year the Abkhaz Obcom of the Communist party of Georgia, Presidium of the Supreme Council and Council of Ministers of the Abkhaz ASSR discussed the issue on worsening of public and political situation in the Abkhaz ASSR on account of the condition established at Abkhaz State University.  It was noted that against the background of complicated public and political situation in the autonomous republic, the separation of Georgian sector from AGU and establishment of Sukhumi branch of Tbilisi State University became the most pressing problem.  That was a forcible measure taken last May due to extraordinary situation established at AGU and in the autonomous Republic.  The Decree stresses: division of Abkhaz State University is inadmissible in respect to education of students and youth in the spirit of internationalism.  Here also is mentioned that the measures undertaken by Party and Soviet organs of Abkhazia had failed to stabilize the situation.  The adopted Decree raised the issue before the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Georgian SSR, Presidium of the Supreme Council and Council of Ministers of the Georgian SSR to assist in immediate regulation of the situation in order to unite the State University.

However, these attempts turned into futile effort as they were discouraged by the erroneous Decree #343p of 14 May 1989 issued by the First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Georgian SSR on establishment of Sukhumi branch of Tbilisi State University and also by the Order #101 of 14 May 1989 of the Rector of TSU.

In the meantime the society has learnt from press and official correspondence that in May of this year the Committee on State Education of the USSR has got a proposal from the Ministry of Education of the Georgian SSR concerning establishment of Sukhumi branch of Tbilisi State University on the basis of Georgian sector at AGU.  The branch was aimed at educating of Georgian students.  However the Committee on State Education of the USSR found inexpedient to support the proposal of the Ministry of Education of the Georgian SSR on establishment of Sukhumi branch of Tbilisi State University.  Moreover, pursuant to the Resolution, #816 of the Council of Ministers of the USSR of 2 September 1982 – the issue on establishment of branches of the high-education institutions is exclusively within the competence of the Council of Ministers of the USSR.

The similar assessment has been done to the establishment of branch of Tbilisi State University by the Commission of the Supreme Council of the USSR, comprising of four People’s Deputies of the USSR, which studied the issue in Abkhazia from 3 to 10 of July of 1989.  The First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on State Education also was included in the Commission. Having examined carefully the situation at AGU the commission released the following conclusion: “The Decree issued by the First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Georgian SSR on establishment of Sukhumi branch of Tbilisi State University can be considered as an interim measure to handle educational process.  Today this measure has become outdated and practically hinders the educational process, discourages the strengthening of inter-ethnic relations and moreover, pursuant to the regulation - the final decision on such issues is within the authority of the Council of Ministers of the USSR.  The Commission officially informed the leadership of the Georgian SSR about its position ”.  The Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR considers that lack of consultation with the leading organs of the Abkhaz ASSR and transparency (“glasnost”), overt negative political, social and economic aspects of the decision on establishment of Sukhumi branch on the basis of Abkhaz State University –is an alien ideology to the Lenin’s policy of the Communist party of the USSR.  Such policy leads into secluded and separated society that doesn’t correspond to the spirit of Perestroika and reforms.

The Presidium of the Supreme Council notes that the practice of neglecting the constitutional rights of the Abkhaz ASSR tolerated by certain officials of the Council of Ministers and Ministry of Public Education of the Georgian SSR and also by the rector of Tbilisi State University came to glaring contradiction with the provisions of the Resolution of the Congress of the People’s Deputies of the USSR “on Major Directions of Internal and Foreign policy of the USSR”.  Aforementioned officials not only breached the state order, but completely ignored the noted Decree of the Supreme body of the State power that reads: “Qualitative renewal of the whole educational system is a key priority to the promotion of intellectual potential of the society”.

The Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR cannot accept such separatist acts and condemns the of the part of AGU personnel aimed at establishment of the branch of Tbilisi State University on the basis of Abkhaz State University as well as epatage conduct of citizens regardless their ethnic affiliation.  It’s inadmissible when practical, reasonable and peaceful dialog is replaced with wretched trick and conduct that deteriorates common norms and rules and destabilizes operation of enterprises, institutions and organizations.

In this strained situation fraught with serious inter-ethnic conflict, the Presidium of the Supreme Council finds inadmissible the establishment of the branch of Tbilisi State University in Sukhumi and considers that the Decree issued by the First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Georgian SSR shall be abolished.

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

1. To ask the Council of Ministers of the USSR to entrust the Council of Ministers of the Georgian SSR with the following tasks:

- to annul unlawful decree issued by the First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Georgian SSR O. Kvilitaia # 343p of 14 May 1989 on establishment of Sukhumi branch of Tbilisi State University;

- to recall unlawful proposal of the Ministry of Public Education of the Georgian SSR sent in May last year to the Committee of the State Education of the USSR on establishment of Sukhumi branch of Tbilisi State University on the basis of Georgian sector of Abkhaz State University;

- to annul Order #101 of 7 July 1989 issued by the Rector of Tbilisi State University, academician N. Amaglobeli on arrangement in Tbilisi of entrance examinations for Sukhumi branch of Tbilisi State University on 20 July;

II. City and district councils of the People’s deputies, labour collectives, press and media and administrative agencies shall carry out decisive measures to stabilize the situation and prevent the breach of work and public order, as well as confrontation between different nationalities; They shall base the informational activity on the Resolution of the Congress of People’s Deputies of the USSR “on Major Direction of the Internal and Foreign Policy of the USSR” and the speech delivered by the Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the USSR, Chairman of the Supreme Council of the USSR M.S. Gorbachev on Central TV that was published in press on 1 July of this year.

III.  This Decree shall be sent to the Central Committee of the Communist party of the Georgian SSR, the Presidium of the Supreme Council and the Council of Ministers of the Georgian SSR; the Decree shall be published in press.

Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz SSR V. Kobakhia

Secretary of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz SSR Y. Kvitsinia

15 July 1989

(Chumalov M.Y. Abkhazian Knot, II issue, M., 1995, p. 190-193/in Russian)