DECISION OF THE MEETING OF DEPUTIES OF THE OBLAS, CITY, DISTRICT, SETTLEMENT AND VILLAGE COUNCILS OF THE SOUTH OSSETIAN AUTONOMOUS OBLAST on implementation of the Decree of the President of the USSR of 7 January 1991 and the Decree issued by the Supreme Council of the USSR of 1 April 1991

The meeting of the all-level Deputies points to the grave social and political situation established in the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast for the latest 2-3 years.  The tension went to mount in November 1989 and later in March and June of 1990.  The Republic of Georgia declared null and void all state structures of Georgia that had been established since 25 February 1921.  The Treaty of 21 May 1921, Treaty on establishment of the Trans-Caucasus Union of the Federative Socialist Republics (TUFSR) of 12 March 1922 and the Treaty on establishment of the USSR of 30 December 1922 have been declared unlawful.

Proceeding from the aforementioned the supreme legislative organ of Georgia abrogated all soviet structures in the whole territory and practically repealed the Constitution of the Georgian SSR.  Taking into consideration the established situation, the 14th session of the Council of People’s Deputies of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast, on 20 September 1990 issued the Decree on reorganization of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast into the South Ossetian Soviet Democratic Republic.

Thereupon, on 1 December 1990 the Supreme Council of Georgia adopted the law on abrogation of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast established upon the Decree of the Central Executive Committee of April of 1922.

However, by the Decree of the President of the USSR of 7 January 1991 “on certain legal acts adopted by the Georgian SSR in December 1990” those decisions of the Georgian SSR have been declared as opposing the Constitution of the USSR and other Union laws.

Tragic events have been developed since 5-6 January of 1991 with the detachment of Georgian militia formations to Tskhinvali.  The situation was aggravated by the fact that neither the Republic of Georgia, nor the South Ossetia carried out the Decree of the President of the USSR of 7 January 1991.

The lack of legal executive power in the South Ossetia becomes the reason for procrastination of the stabilization of social and political situation and for the resolution of vital important issues.

In condition of state of emergency, when the most of the territory of Tskhinvali and Znauri districts are occupied, disastrous earthquake dilapidated hundreds of enterprises and farms, thousands of houses and tens of villages of the Oblast are destroyed and the village Java is completely devastated; the Meeting of the Deputies considers necessary immediate implementation of the Decree of the President of the USSR of 7 January 1991 and the Decree issued by the Supreme Council of the USSR of 1 April 1991.

Proceeding from the aforementioned and deeply concerned at the further developments in the region, striving for the termination of the inter-ethnic opposition of the Ossetian and Georgian people, the Meeting of the all-level People’s Deputies of the South Ossetia decides:

1.  To declare null and void the Decree issued by the 14th Session of the Council of People’s Deputies of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast of 20 September 1990 “on reorganization of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast into South Ossetian Soviet Democratic Republic” in order to implement the Decree of the President of the USSR of 7 January 1991 “On certain legal acts adopted by the Georgian SSR” and the Decree issued by the Supreme Council of the USSR of 1 April 1991 “on situation in the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast”.

2. To restore the functioning of the institution of state authority and management of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast that was in force until September 1990.

3. Taking into consideration established extreme social and economic situation in the Oblast and the state of emergency in Tskhinvali and Java districts, the authority of the supreme state organ shall be laid on the Meeting of the all-level Councils of the People’s Deputies until the next elections of the people’s deputies to the local councils.

4. Executive committee of the Council of the People’s Deputies of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast shall exercise the executive and administrative authority between the meetings.

5. Based on the will of the people of the South Ossetia expressed at the Referendum of the USSR on 17 March 1991 on preservation and renewal of the USSR, the Meeting considers necessary to submit a petition to the Supreme Council of the USSR on independent participation of the Oblast in the Union Treaty authorizing him to sign the Treaty as a subject of Federation. For the purpose of preparation and signing of the Treaty to set up plenipotentiary delegation of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast comprising of: 1. Gassiev Z.I. - Head of Delegation; 2. Kochiev G.V., 3. Khubulov V.N., 4. Khugaev G.G., 5. Chekhoev A.G.

6.  To ask the Supreme Council of the USSR to endorse this Decision.

7. This Decision shall be published in the Oblast press and the Supreme Council of Georgia shall be familiarized with this Decree.

The chairman of the Meeting  Z. Gassiev

Secretary of the Meeting L. Ostaeva

4 May 1991

(Newspaper “Sovetskaia Ossetia”, # 41, 16 May 1991)