DECREE ISSUED BY THE PRESIDIUM OF THE STATE COUNCIL OF THE REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA on the Current Situation in Abkhazia

The Presidium of the State Council of the Republic of Georgia notes that despite the numerous official warnings and collegial advises offered to the Abkhazian leadership to desist from voluntarism and denounce violent methods in carrying out personnel policy, the Abkhaz leadership continues its destructive actions.

On 24 June 1992 in Sukhumi, armed individuals surrounded the building of the Ministry of Interior, and inflicted serious body-injury to G. Lominadze - the Minister of Interior of Abkhazia. This fact resulted in expression of indignation by the population of the Autonomous Republic, especially by ethnic Georgians-as a result acts of disobedience occurred (more than half of regional and town departments of the Ministry of Interior do not obey the Ministry), full scale industrial strike was declared, for several hours electricity supply and telecommunication means have been disrupted and there were serious outages in functioning of other means of communication as well. There is a serious danger of further escalation of the situation that would lead to chaos and the situation may become uncontrollable.

According to the information available to the State Council, the considerable part of the population of Abkhazia does not trust and does not obey the Chairman of Supreme Council of Abkhazia.

Taking into the current situation, the Presidium of the State Council of the Republic of Georgia decrees:

1. In order to avoid further deterioration of the situation and potential for contradictions and clashes, Mr. T. Nadareishvili - the First Deputy Chair of the Supreme Council of Abkhazia- is entrusted with a task of coordinating of emergency measures aimed at stabilization of the situation.

2. Mr. T. Nadareishvili, in association with Mr. V. Ardzinba - the Chairman of the Supreme Council of Abkhazia and Abkhaz deputies, political parties and leadership of regions are entrusted with a task of undertaking all necessary measures aimed at overcoming the current difficulties and restoring normal tempo of life.

3. Mr. Nadareishvili shall inform the State Council and the Interim Government of Georgia about the measures undertaken and the ongoing processes.

Presidium of the State Council of the Republic of Georgia.

(Newspaper “Svobodnaya Gruzia”, # 84, 2 July 1992)