EXTRACT FROM THE MINUTES N 53  OF THE SESSION OF THE  ABKHAZ PEOPLE’S COUNCIL on Relations between Georgia and Abkhazia

25 July 1918

The mandates of newly elected members from Gudauta, Gagra and Kodori precincts were checked, as well as the number of members from the mentioned precincts.

1.  Upon the request of the newly elected members the secretary announces the agreements concluded between the Council and the Government of Georgia; the newly elected members asked for translating these documents in Abkhazian language and distribute among communities.  The chairman promised to do it.

2. The issue on nationalization of the state organizations…

The Chairman proposed the following resolution: Having heard the report on nationalization of the state organizations, the  Abkhaz People’s Council decided: considering the nationalization of the state organizations quite purposeful in general, the  Abkhaz People’s Council still doesn’t find it possible and reasonable within Abkhazia. Due to the multi-ethnicity of Abkhazia and difficulties in carrying out the nationalization of state organizations, the  Abkhaz People’s Council decided to maintain Russian as the common language at the state organizations on the territory of Abkhazia

3.  Issue on election the Minister on Abkhaz issues… the secret ballot voting showed: Chkhotua got 22 votes, V. K. Shervashidze – 4, G. D. Tumanov – 4 and Bartsits – 1…

Thus the colonel Chkhotua was elected Minister on Abkhaz Issues by majority of votes.  The colonel Chkhotua thanked to the participants of meeting and said that he would devote himself to the protection of interests of Abkhazia and also asked the Council to give him certain instructions.

(Jemal Gamakharia, Badri Gogia, Abkhazia-Historical Region of Georgia. Tbilisi, 1997, p. 422/in Russian)