Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, April 15, 1991 TAG: 9104150117
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-2 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: TBILISI, U.S.S.R. LENGTH: Medium
Zviad Gamsakhurdia, an anti-Communist leader and former political prisoner, was given the power to institute martial law and presidential rule, to revoke or grant citizenship and to declare war.
Sunday's action followed Georgia's declaration of independence from the Soviet Union on Tuesday. Gamsakhurdia said strengthening the leadership post showed the southern republic has "decided to accelerate the process" of creating an independent state.
The republic, in modifying its constitution to create the powerful presidency, has gone further than any of the other Soviet republics in moving toward independence.
Gamsakhurdia, 52, will serve until a general election is held on May 26, the anniversary of the date in 1918 when Georgia first declared independence. It was forcibly absorbed into the Soviet Union in 1921.
In a show of hands, the 245-member parliament voted to create the presidency and then elected Gamsakhurdia. The votes officially were declared to be unanimous, even though a handful of legislators appeared to abstain.
Gamsakhurdia was the only person nominated, and deputies burst into applause after electing him.
"Georgia is in danger," Gamsakhurdia said in his acceptance speech as he stood in the marble-columned chamber in front of the black, white and red flag of independent Georgia.
Ethnic violence in the South Ossetia region of northern Georgia has prompted the Kremlin to send in 1,500 troops. Pro-independence leaders in Georgia fear that President Mikhail Gorbachev is preparing a crackdown against the republic.
As Georgia's president, Gamsakhurdia said he "will strengthen its international legal position and defend the inviolability of its population."
by CNB