DECREE ISSUED BY THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION on Implementation of the Decree issued by the Supreme Council of Russian Federation “on Situation in the North Caucasus in the Light of Events in Abkhazia” of 25 September 1992

The Supreme Council of the Russian Federation notes with deep concern that the measures, undertaken by the Russian Federation and conflicting sides aimed at regulating the conflict in Abkhazia still are not sufficient to reach any positive results.

Exacerbation of the situation, first of all connected with the brought down helicopter by terrorist with a large group of citizens on the board, mostly women and children, makes the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Russian Federation to return to the question of discussing the conflict in that region that infringes on Russia’s interests.

Georgian side grossly violated achieved agreement on legal status of presence of Russian military formations on the territory of the Republic of Georgia.

Peace process effort of the contingent of the armed forces of the Russian Federation aimed at securing the protection of the population and operation of enterprises and transport in demilitarized zone of the conflict was not supported thus failing to use full potential for implementation of the task.

The Supreme Council of the Russian Federation decrees:

1. The president and the Government of Russian Federation shall:

- intensify effort for implementation of cease-fire regime in the conflict zone and separation of forces of conflicting sides;

- assure the security of citizens, first of all of the women and children in the conflict zone in compliance with the international norms;

- continue humanitarian aid to the population victims of the conflict, including the possibilities of the international community to support the refugees from the conflict zone, and if necessary, evacuate the civilians;

- pursue energetically efforts to prevent from penetration of illegal paramilitary formations and delivery of weapons to the conflict zone.

2.  To advise the President of the Russian Federation to charge the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation with a task of taking adequate responsive measures against terrorists and their bases in case of attacks to the humanitarian vehicles.

3.  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall inform the UN and the CSCE about terrorist groups acting against Russian transport means, evacuating refugees and also about the facts of attacks to the Russian military unites and the position of Georgian leadership towards these incidents.

4.  The Supreme Council of the Russian Federation urges the leadership of Georgia to launch criminal prosecution against those that are guilty in committing of terrorist acts.  The Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation shall inform the Supreme Council of the Russian Federation on adequate measures undertaking together with the Georgian side.

5. The Government of the Russian Federation shall submit to the Supreme Council of the Russian Federation proposals on possible sanctions against Georgia in case it fails to carry out necessary measures for ensuring the protection of citizens and the property of Russian Federation on the territory of Georgia.

Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Russian Federation R. Khasbulatov

25 December 1992

(Bulletin of the Congress of the People’s Deputies of the RF and the Supreme Council of the RF, 1991, # 52, p. 184-185)