DECREE ISSUED BY THE SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA on Elections to the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR

The term of jurisdiction of the Supreme Council of the Abkhazian ASSR actually expired on 25 February 1990.

By virtue of the decree issued on 18 November 1989 by the Supreme Council of the Georgian SSR on “Introduction Certain amendments and additions to the Constitution of the Georgian SSR”, the term of jurisdiction of the Supreme Council of the Abkhazian ASSR was prolonged until new elections.

Pursuant to Article 75 of an edition of 4 December 1990 of the Constitution of the Abkhaz ASSR, the prolongation of the term of authority of the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR is permitted only on exceptional basis and not longer than 6 months.

However, the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR did not prolong its own term of authority and did not adopt a law on elections to the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR and therefore, failed to fix a date of elections to the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR.

Taking all the aforementioned into consideration, the Supreme Council of the Republic of Georgia decrees:

1. To advise the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR on the following:

To hold elections to the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR no later than October 1, 1991;

In accordance with Article 75 of the Constitution of Abkhaz ASSR to prolong its term of authority until 15 March 1991;

2. Due to the fact, that the Constitution of the Republic of Georgia stipulates five-year term for state authority bodies of Autonomous Republics, while the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR has been functioning for more than six years, failure to implement Article 1 of this decree will result in termination of term of jurisdiction of the Supreme Council of the Abkhaz ASSR of current convocation.

Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Georgia Z. Gamsakhurdia

27 February 1991

(Bulletin of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Georgia, 1991, # 2, p. 92)