1991 Abkhazian New Union Treaty referendum

A referendum on the New Union Treaty was held in Abkhazia on 17 March 1991, as part of the wider Soviet referendum. The treaty was approved by 99.06% of voters.

1991 Abkhazian New Union Treaty referendum

17 March 1991 (1991-03-17)
Do you consider it necessary to preserve the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as a renewed federation of equal sovereign republics, in which the rights and freedoms of a person of any nationality will be fully guaranteed?
Results
Choice Votes % Yes 164,231 99.06% No 1,566 0.94% Valid votes 165,797 99.55% Invalid or blank votes 747 0.45% Total votes 166,544 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 318,317 52.32%

Background

The treaty would have reorganised the Soviet Union into a less centralised state. However, it was largely boycotted by the Georgian population in Abkhazia, whilst in Georgia no referendum was held.

Results

Choice		Votes	%
For		164,231	99.06
Against		1,566	0.94
Total		165,797	100.00
Valid votes		165,797	99.55
Invalid/blank votes		747	0.45
Total votes		166,544	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		318,317	52.32
Source: RRC

Aftermath

The Union Treaty was approved in the republics where referendums were held, but its coming into effect was prevented by the August 1991 coup attempt and the subsequent dissolution of the Soviet Union on 26 December.

The fact that voters in Abkhazia approved the new union treaty while the Georgian SSR declared its independence on 9 April has been used by Abkhazia as an argument that Georgia became de jure independent from the Soviet Union without Abkhazia, which was then free to choose its own future.^[1]