LAW OF THE SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA on changes and amendments to the Constitution (Basic Law) of the Georgian SSR

(…)

The Supreme Council of the Georgian SSR decrees:

To introduce the following changes and amendments to the Constitution (Basic Law):

(…)

Article 11. The land, its bowels, water and forest on the territory of the Georgian SSR is the property only of the Georgian SSR. The natural resources of the continental shelf along the Black Sea coast are the property of the Georgian SSR.

The Georgian SSR has the rights and responsibilities in the Black Sea economic zone along its coastal line considered by the norms of international law.

Along with the natural resources the means of production in industry, construction and agriculture, as well as the communication, trade, public facility’s means, the dwelling fund and other sources necessary to fulfil the tasks of the Republic are the property of the Georgian SSR.

Article 69.  The Georgian SSR reserves the right to secede freely from the USSR. This is a sacred and inviolable right.

Abolishment or restriction of the right of secession of the Georgian SSR from the USSR under the decree of the Supreme organ of the USSR or through other means is inadmissible.

From the moment of abolishment of the right of the Georgian SSR on secession from the USSR the Georgian SSR shall be considered seceded from the USSR.

The same result will follow the rejection of request submitted by the Supreme Council of the Georgian SSR on annulment or changing of the Union decree that restricts the right of the Georgian SSR on free secession from the USSR.  The Supreme Council of the Georgian SSR decides the issue weather the right of the Georgian SSR on secession from the USSR is restricted or not.

(…)

Article 77. The laws and other normative legal acts of the USSR and the Georgian SSR are in effect on the territory of the Georgian SSR.

The Supreme Council of the Georgian SSR suspends the effect of the Union laws and legal acts if they are not in compliance with the interests of the Republic.  At the same time it submits proposals to the Committee on Observance of Constitution and the organs that issued the legal acts aimed at putting them in conformity to the interests of the Republic.  If no agreement is reached these acts are no valid on the territory of the Georgian SSR.

(…)

Article 104.  The Supreme Council of the Georgian SSR is the supreme organ of the state power of the Georgian SSR.

The Supreme Council of the Georgian SSR is authorized to receive for and discuss any issues under the jurisdiction of the Georgian SSR.

The Supreme Council of the Georgian SSR:

1. Adopts the Constitution of the Georgian SSR, introduces the changes and amendments to the Constitution;

2. Decides the issues relating to the frontiers of the Georgian SSR;

3. Decides the issues relating to the state arrangement that are under the jurisdiction of the Georgian SSR;

4. Decides the issues relating to the secession of the Georgian SSR from the USSR;

5. Decides the issues relating to the effect of the Union laws and legal acts on the territory of the Georgian SSR;

6. Elaborates the major directions of the internal-political and foreign policies of the Georgian SSR;

8)  Secures the unified regulation of the legislation on the whole territory of the Georgian SSR.

11) Determines the procedures for administrative-territorial arrangement of the Georgian SSR; decides and changes the frontiers of the Autonomous Oblasts and district divisions; creates the cities in the regions and the districts in the cities; decides the subordination of the cities; changes the names of the regions, cities, towns, districts, villages and other settlements;

12) Approves the decision on changing the frontiers of the Autonomous Republics; creates the new districts and towns of republican subordination.

13)  Approves the district division of the Autonomous Republics, creation of cities and districts within the cities, changes of subordination of cities, changing of names of regions, cities, districts within the cities and of other settlements;

24) Observes the Constitution of the Georgian SSR and secures the compliance of the Constitutions of the Autonomous Republics of Ajara and Abkhazia with the Constitution and the laws of the Georgian SSR;

26) Abolishes the Decrees and Resolutions issued by the Councils of Ministers of the Autonomous Republics of Abkhazia and Ajara, as well as of the People’s Councils of the Autonomous Oblast, regional, city and district councils (of republican subordination) if they are not in compliance with the Constitution and laws of the Georgian SSR.

(…)

Article 108. The Presidium of the Supreme Council convenes annually the Spring and Autumn sessions of the Supreme Council of the Georgian SSR.

The Presidium convenes extraordinary sessions upon its own initiative, or upon the proposal of the chairman of the Supreme Council, or upon the request of at least 1/3 of deputies, as well as upon the proposals of the Supreme Councils of the Abkhaz and Ajara Autonomous Republics and the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast.

Article 110. The right to initiate legislation is vested in the Deputies of the Supreme Council, the Presidium of the Supreme Council, the Chairman of the Supreme Council, the Committee on Observance of Constitution, the Council of ministers of the Georgian SSR, the Supreme Councils of the Abkhaz and Ajara Autonomous Republics, the standing Commission of the Supreme Council of the Georgian SSR, the Council of People’s Deputies of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast, the Chamber of Public Control of the Georgian SSR, the Supreme Court of the Georgian SSR, the Chief State  Arbiter, the Prosecutor General of the Georgian SSR.

(…)

Article 111. The bills and other issues submitted to the Supreme Council are discussed at the sittings of the Supreme Council.

(…)

Article 112… The Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Georgian SSR composes of the following officials: the Chairman of the Supreme Council, the First Deputy of the Chairman of the Supreme Council, two Deputies of the Chairman of the Supreme Council - the Chairmen of the Supreme Councils of the Abkhaz and Ajara Autonomous Republics, the Chairman of the South Ossetian Oblast Council of the People’s Deputies, the Chairman of the Chamber of Public Control, the chairmen of the standing commissions of the Supreme Council.

Article 113.The Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Georgian SSR:

14) Publishes in Georgian and Russian languages and for the Autonomous Republics and Autonomous Oblast in the language of the autonomous entity the laws and other legal acts adopted by the Supreme Council, the Presidium of the Supreme Council and the Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Georgian SSR.

(…)

Article 119.  The Supreme Council of the Georgian SSR elects the Committee on Observance of Constitution for 10-year term composed of specialists of the sphere of politics and jurisprudence: the Chairman, Deputy Chairman and 7 members, including the representatives from the Abkhaz and Ajara Autonomous Republics and the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast.

The Committee on observance of Constitution:

2) Observes the compliance of the Constitutions and laws of the Autonomous Republics, Decrees and Orders of the Council of Ministers of the Georgian SSR, Decrees and Orders of the Councils of Ministers of the Autonomous Republics, Decisions of the Council of People’s Deputies of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast, Decisions of the district and city councils (of republican subordination) with the Constitution and the laws of the Georgian SSR.

3) By its own initiative or under the decree of the Supreme Council of the Georgian SSR, the Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Georgian SSR, Standing Commissions of the Supreme Council of the Georgian SSR, the Council of Ministers of the Georgian SSR, or upon the proposals of the Supreme Councils of the Autonomous Republics makes conclusions on compliance of acts issued by public organizations with the Constitution and the laws of the Georgian SSR.

(…)

Article 131. The Supreme Councils of the Abkhaz and Ajara Autonomous Republics are the supreme bodies of these republics.

The Supreme Council of the Abkhaz and Ajara Autonomous Republics are authorized to decide all issues that are under the jurisdiction of the Autonomous Republics set out in the Constitution of the USSR, the Constitution of the Georgian SSR and the Constitutions of the Autonomous Republics.

The Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic is accountable to the Supreme Council of the Georgian SSR.

Article 132. The Supreme Councils of the Abkhaz and Ajara Autonomous Republics adopt the Constitutions of the Autonomous Republics, introduce the changes and amendments to them; approve the state plans on economic and social development of the autonomous republics; establish the organs under their subordination.

The authorities of the Supreme Councils of the Autonomous Republics, their Presidiums and the Chairmen of the Autonomous Republics are determined in the Constitutions of the Autonomous Republics.

16. To formulate the second part of Article 133 as follows:

“The Council of Ministers of the Abkhaz ASSR and the Council of Ministers of the Ajara ASSR are accountable to the Supreme Councils of these Autonomous Republics”.

Article 141. The activity of the Councils of autonomous Oblast, districts and cities are organized by their presidiums headed by the chairmen of councils, and the town (of regional subordination) village and settlement councils - by the chairmen of these councils.

The local Councils of People’s Deputies are authorized to discuss and decide the issued under their competences set out on the legislation of the USS, the Georgian SSR and the relevant autonomous republics.  The laws on the local councils of the people’s deputies determine the list of issues that shall be decided only at the sessions.

(…)

Article 164.

The Supreme Court of the Georgian SSR, the Supreme Courts of the Autonomous Republics, the judges of the Autonomous Oblast are elected accordingly by the Supreme Council of the Georgian SSR, the Supreme Councils of the Autonomous Republics and the Council of People’s Deputies of the Autonomous Oblast.

(…)

The Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Georgian SSR G. Gumbaridze

The Secretary of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Georgian SSR V. Kvaratskhelia

18 November 1989

(Bulletin of the Supreme Council of the Georgian SSR, 1989, # 11, p. 15-34)