LAW OF THE ABKHAZ ASSR on changes and amendments to the Constitution (Basic Law) of the Abkhaz ASSR

Article 102. The Presidium of  the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR shall be fully accountable to the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR exercising the organizational activity of the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR and fulfilling other authorities within the framework determined by the Constitution of the Abkhaz ASSR and other laws of the Abkhaz ASSR.

The Presidium of the Supreme Council shall consist the following officials: Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR, deputy chairmen of the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR, Chairman of the Chamber of Control of the Abkhaz ASSR, chairmen of the standing Commissions of the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR.

The Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR leads the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR.  After the expiration of the term of authority of the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR the Presidium reserves its authority until the first sitting of the newly elected Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR.

Article 103. The Presidium of the Supreme council of the Abkhaz ASSR shall:

1) convene the sessions of the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR;

2) arrange the sittings of the Session of the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR;

3) coordinate the work of standing commissions and sub-commissions of the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR;

4) assist the People’s Deputies of the Abkhaz ASSR to exercise their authority and provide the necessary information;

5) approve the date for, and coordinate the election of the people’s deputies for the local councils of the Abkhaz ASSR;

6) coordinate the preparatory works and hold the referendum as well as the nation-wide discussion of the draft laws of the Abkhaz ASSR and other principal issues of the State life;

7) establish the memorial or other national days of the Abkhaz ASSR;

8) institute and award honourable titles and decorations of the Abkhaz ASSR;

9) publish in Abkhaz, Georgian and Russian languages the shorthand of reports and other acts issued by the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR, the Presidium of the Abkhaz ASSR and the Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR;

10) The Presidium of the Abkhaz ASSR shall issue the Orders and Decrees, which shall be considered adopted if the majority of the Presidium has voted in favour.

(…)

Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR V. Ardzinba

4 December 1990

(Newspaper “Sovetskaia Abkhazia”, # 236, 8 December 1990)