RESOLUTION OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE SOUTH OSSETIAN COUNCIL OF PEOPLE’S DEPUTIES OF THE FIRST CONVOCATION on Preparation for and Holding of Referendum of the USSR on 17 March 1991

The First Session of the Council of People’s Deputies of South Ossetia notes that in compliance with the decree issued by the Supreme Council of the USSR of 16 January 1991 “on Measures for preparation and holding the All-Union Referendum on 17 March 1991” the Referendum will be held aimed at preserving the USSR and concluding the new agreement of union republics.

The most of the republics have already set up the electoral commissions in order to facilitate voting process and carry out other relevant measures.

At the same time, some of the union republics, including Georgia, violating the Constitution and the legislation of the USSR, are not likely to implement the resolution by the IV Congress of the People’s Deputies of the USSR on holding the referendum. They deprive the citizens the right to participate in the referendum. This is the breach of the Constitution of the USSR and its legislation, as well as violation of Declaration of the Universal Human Rights and other international covenants that consider participation of the people in the process of state management.

In order to participate in the Referendum dedicated to renewed federation of equal and sovereign states and preserving the USSR, and based on the will of the majority of population of the South Ossetia, the First Session of the Council of People’s Deputies of the South Ossetia decrees:

1. To hold all-union referendum on the territory of the South Ossetia on 17 March 1991.

2. To set up electoral commission for holding the all-union referendum and approve its composition.

3. Due to the state of emergency to instruct the Central Electoral Commission to retain the number of polling districts and stations using for referendum previously established districts and stations.

To create polling stations within the military units of the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Interior of the USSR dislocated on the territory of South Ossetia pursuant to the Article 5 of the Decree issued by the Supreme Council of the USSR of 25 February 1991.

4. Due to the armed groups penetrated to the territory of South Ossetia and in order to secure protection of the preparation and holding of referendum, to ask the Supreme Council of the USSR to dispatch to the territory of the South Ossetia limited contingent of the troops of the Ministry of Interior of the USSR.

5. To ask the Central Electoral Commission of the Referendum of the USSR to provide all necessary items to the Central Electoral Commission of South Ossetia.

6. To ask the Supreme Council of the North Ossetian SSR to provide necessary assistance for involvement of refugees from the South Ossetia to the referendum.

First Deputy Chairman of the Executive Committee

of the Council of People’s Deputies of South Ossetia G. Khugaev

Secretary of the Executive Committee

of the Council of People’s Deputies of South Ossetia V. Petoev

26 February 1991

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