APPEAL OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA TO MR. B. YELTSIN, CHAIRMAN OF THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE RUSSIAN SOVIET FEDERATIVE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC

As we have learnt, on May 4 of this year, the illegally convoked session of the Regional Council of People’s Deputies of the former Autonomous Region of South Ossetia adopted a resolution on the abolition of the so-called Soviet Republic of South Ossetia and restoration of the Autonomous Region, which is part of the Republic of Georgia but “administratively” is under the jurisdiction of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic.

And all this happens simultaneously with the establishment of a commission of deputies of the Supreme Councils of the USSR, RSFSR and Republic of Georgia. The commission involving representatives of the Ossetian population of Shida Kartli was formed  by decision of the USSR Supreme Council of April 24 of this year

The commission is in charge with political resolution of the armed conflict in Shida Kartli region. Today we have the real chance of consolidation of sovereignty of the Republic of Georgia and protection of ethnic and cultural autonomy of the Ossetian population of this region.

Against this background, the step made by the Ossetian separatists, who aim to undermine and ultimately thwart the political process as well as to confront the jurisdictions of the Republic of Georgia and RSFSR in this region, can be regarded only as provocation.

Let us draw your attention to the fact that the session was held under the chairmanship of A. Chekhoeyv, People’s Deputy of the Soviet Union from the former Autonomous Region of South Ossetia.

Apart form the fact that A. Chekhoyev, the former First Secretary of the South Ossetian Regional Committee of the Communist Party of Georgia was ousted from this post by Ossetians for jobbery, he had no right to lead the new provocation of the Ossetian separatists as he was well aware of the issue that was discussed by the Council of Nationalities and the agreement at which the deputies arrived.

In view of this, on May 7 of this year, the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Georgia recognized as illegal the attempt to revitalize the Regional Council of the so-called Autonomous Region of South Ossetia.

The Presidium of the Supreme Council of Republic of Georgia is confident that the Supreme Council of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic and its Chairman will officially distance themselves from the provocative act of the Ossetian extremists, which is absolutely incompatible with the truly equal relationship that has been developing between the two sovereign republics. The lack of reaction from your will be regarded as virtual support of this act and interference into domestic affairs of the Republic of Georgia.

The Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Georgia,

Z. Gamsakhurdia, President of the Republic of Georgia.

Tbilisi, 7 May, 1991.

(Bulletins of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Georgia, 1991, # 5, pp. 80-81/Translation from Georgian)