On Approval of the Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara

Organic Law of Georgia

On Approval of the Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara

Article 1🔗

The Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara adopted by the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara on 20 February 2008 shall be approved.

Article 2🔗

This Law shall enter into force from 4 August 2008.

President of Georgia M. Saakashvili

Tbilisi,

15 July 2008.

No. 232-rs

Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara

The Autonomous Republic of Ajara, guided by the Constitution of Georgia, its founding principles and universal human values, hereby adopts the Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara.

Article 1. Status of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara🔗

1. The Autonomous Republic of Ajara is an inalienable territorial unit of Georgia.

2. The Autonomous Republic of Ajara comprises the territory within the administrative boundaries existing on the day of adoption of the Constitutional Law of Georgia “On the Autonomous Republic of Ajara”.

3. A change of the administrative boundaries of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara shall be permissible by an Organic Law of Georgia on the basis of an initiative of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara. A decision of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara on the said initiative shall be adopted by a majority of not less than two thirds of its full composition.

4. The bodies of state authority and local self-government established under the legislation of Georgia shall operate in the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara.

5. The Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara is the fundamental law of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara. All other legal acts of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara shall comply with the Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara.

Article 2. Bodies of Authority of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara🔗

1. The bodies of authority of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara are:

a) the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara;

b) the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara;

c) the Ministry of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara;

d) the Supreme Election Commission of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara;

e) a sub-agency institution of the Ministry of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara.

2. The Autonomous Republic of Ajara shall be entitled, in accordance with the legislation of Georgia, to establish legal entities of public and private law.

Article 3. Administrative Centre of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara🔗

The administrative centre of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara is the city of Batumi.

Article 4. Symbols of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara🔗

1. The flag of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara is a rectangular cloth with a proportion of 2/3, crossed by seven horizontal stripes: stripes 1-3-5-7 are light blue, and stripes 2-4-6 are white. In the upper right corner of the flag the State Flag of Georgia is depicted. The image of the flag of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara is annexed to this Constitution.

2. The coat of arms of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara is a heraldic shield divided in a wavy manner, with a small heraldic shield in the centre. On the small heraldic shield, on a purple field, is depicted a golden cross with a base, a silver spearman, a slayer of a silver dragon, a silver horseman with a golden halo mounted on a silver horse – Saint George. In the first part of the shield, on a green field, a golden castle is depicted. In the second part of the shield, on an azure field, three golden coins are depicted, two above one. The image of the coat of arms of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara is annexed to this Constitution.

3. The rules for the use of the flag and coat of arms of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara shall be determined by the legislation of Georgia and the Autonomous Republic of Ajara.

Article 5. Powers of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara🔗

1. The powers of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara shall be determined by the Constitution of Georgia, the Constitutional Law of Georgia "On the Autonomous Republic of Ajara", the Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara, and other legislative acts of Georgia and the Autonomous Republic of Ajara.

2. The special powers of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara are:

a) adoption of laws and other normative acts of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara;

b) determination of the structure, powers and rules of activity of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara;

c) determination and implementation of the budgetary policy of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara, adoption of the Law on the Budget of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara and control over its implementation, in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia and the Autonomous Republic of Ajara;

d) management and disposal of the property of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia and the Autonomous Republic of Ajara;

e) management and disposal of land, forest and water resources in the ownership of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia and the Autonomous Republic of Ajara;

f) spatial-territorial planning and development of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia and the Autonomous Republic of Ajara;

g) management of motor roads of autonomous republic significance and other infrastructure;

h) establishment, management and support of educational, scientific, creative and sports institutions of autonomous republic significance;

i) establishment and conferment of awards and honorary titles of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia and the Autonomous Republic of Ajara;

j) management of the archival service of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara.

3. The Autonomous Republic of Ajara shall exercise other powers in the fields of economy, agriculture, tourism, health and social protection, education, culture, sports and youth policy, and environmental protection, which are not attributed by the legislation of Georgia to the special powers of state authority or to the exclusive own powers of local self-government and the exercise of which is not excluded from the powers of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara by the legislation of Georgia.

4. The Autonomous Republic of Ajara shall exercise the powers delegated by the State by law.

Article 6. Financial autonomy and property of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara🔗

1. The Autonomous Republic of Ajara shall enjoy financial autonomy within the limits established by the Law of Georgia.

2. The Autonomous Republic of Ajara shall have property, the rules for the formation of which shall be determined by the legislation of Georgia.

Article 7. Budget of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara🔗

1. The Supreme Council shall annually adopt the Law on the Budget of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara by a majority of its full composition.

2. Only the Chairman of the Government is authorized to submit the draft budget of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara to the Supreme Council. The Chairman of the Government shall submit the draft budget for the next budget year to the Supreme Council no later than 2 months before the end of the budget year. Together with the draft Budget Law, a report of the Government on the progress of implementation of the current year's budget shall be submitted to the Supreme Council. The Government shall submit the annual report on budget implementation to the Supreme Council no later than three months after the end of the budget year.

3. Making amendments to the draft Budget Law without the consent of the Chairman of the Government shall be inadmissible. The Chairman of the Government may request the Supreme Council to incur additional expenditure if he indicates the source of its coverage.

4. A draft law that causes an increase in expenditures of the budget of the current budget year, a decrease in revenues, or the assumption of new financial obligations by the Autonomous Republic of Adjara may be adopted by the Supreme Council only after the consent of the Chairman of the Government, while a draft law related to the next budget year may be adopted with the consent of the Chairman of the Government or within the framework of the document of basic data and directions submitted by the Chairman of the Government to the Supreme Council.

5. If the Supreme Council has not adopted the budget before the beginning of the new budget year, expenditures shall be covered in accordance with the procedure established by law, according to the previous year's budget.

6. The reduction in the budget of current funds allocated for the Supreme Council compared to the amount of budget funds of the previous year may be made only with the prior consent of the Supreme Council.

7. The Budget Law shall be signed and published by the Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara in accordance with the procedure established by Article 19 of the Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara.

8. The procedure for drafting and reviewing the budget of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara shall be determined by the legislation of Georgia and the Autonomous Republic of Adjara.

Article 8. Status of the Supreme Council🔗

1. The Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara is the highest representative body of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, which, within the scope of the powers of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, carries out legislative activity, controls the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, and exercises other powers determined by the legislation of Georgia and the Autonomous Republic of Adjara.

2. The internal organization and rules of procedure of the Supreme Council shall be determined by the Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara and the Rules of Procedure of the Supreme Council. The Rules of Procedure of the Supreme Council shall be adopted by the Supreme Council by a majority of its full composition on the basis of an initiative of a member of the Supreme Council, a committee, or a faction. The Rules of Procedure shall have the force of a law of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara and shall be signed and published by the Chairman of the Supreme Council.

Article 9. Elections of the Supreme Council🔗

1. The Supreme Council shall consist of 21 deputies elected by citizens of Georgia having the right to vote who are registered in the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, on the basis of universal, free, equal and direct electoral right, by secret ballot, for a term of 4 years, under a proportional system.

2. Regular elections of the Supreme Council shall be held on the last Saturday of October of the calendar year in which the term of powers of the Supreme Council expires. If martial law is declared either throughout the entire territory of Georgia or a state of emergency is declared in the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, elections of the Supreme Council shall be held within 60 days after the lifting of the state of emergency or martial law. The President of Georgia shall schedule the elections in accordance with the procedure established by the Organic Law of Georgia no later than the 60th day before the elections.

3. A citizen of Georgia having the right to vote who has reached the age of 25 and has lived in Georgia for at least 5 years may be elected as a member of the Supreme Council. A person who has been sentenced to imprisonment by a court judgment shall not be elected as a member of the Supreme Council.

4. (Deleted – 17 July 2020, No. 7066).

5. The procedure for electing the Supreme Council shall be determined by the legislation of Georgia and the Autonomous Republic of Adjara.

6. The summary protocol of the Supreme Council elections shall be drawn up by the Supreme Election Commission of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia and the Autonomous Republic of Adjara.

Organic Law of Georgia of 17 July 2020 No. 7066 – website, 20 July 2020.

Article 10. First Sitting of the Supreme Council🔗

1. The first sitting of the newly elected Supreme Council shall be held no later than one month after the elections and shall be convened by the President of Georgia.

2. The first sitting of the Supreme Council shall be opened if a majority of the full composition of the Supreme Council is present at the sitting. From this moment, the powers of the Supreme Council of the previous convocation shall terminate. The Supreme Council shall acquire full powers from the moment when the powers of not less than two-thirds of the members of the Supreme Council are recognized.

Article 11. Member of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara🔗

1. A member of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara shall enjoy a free mandate, and his/her recall shall be inadmissible.

2. A member of the Supreme Council shall have the right not to give testimony regarding a fact that was entrusted to him/her as a member of the Supreme Council.

3. The conditions for the unimpeded exercise of the powers of a member of the Supreme Council shall be ensured.

4. A member of the Supreme Council shall not have the right to hold any position in public service or to engage in entrepreneurial activity. A member of the Supreme Council may engage in public activity. A member of the Supreme Council may engage in scientific, pedagogical and artistic activity, if this activity does not involve the performance of administrative functions.

5. The issue of recognition or early termination of the powers of a member of the Supreme Council shall be decided by the Supreme Council. This decision of the Supreme Council may be appealed to a court in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia.

6. The powers of a member of the Supreme Council shall be terminated early if he/she:

a) submits a personal application to the Supreme Council regarding the termination of powers;

b) holds a position incompatible with the status or engages in an incompatible activity;

c) during a regular session, for an invalid reason, did not attend more than half of the regular sittings;

d) has been found guilty by a court judgment that has entered into legal force;

e) by a court decision has been recognized as a recipient of support and placed in an appropriate inpatient medical institution, has been recognized by the court as missing or deceased;

f) has died;

g) loses Georgian citizenship;

h) is subject to termination of powers by a decision of the Constitutional Court of Georgia.

7. The procedure for early termination of the powers of a member of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara shall be determined by the Rules of Procedure of the Supreme Council.

8. A member of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara shall receive the remuneration established by legislation.

Article 12. Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council🔗

1. The Supreme Council, for the term of its powers, in accordance with the procedure established by the Rules of Procedure, by secret ballot, by a majority of its full composition, shall elect the Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara and the Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council.

2. The Chairman of the Supreme Council shall direct the work of the Supreme Council, ensure free expression of opinion, sign legal acts adopted by the Supreme Council, and exercise other powers determined by the Rules of Procedure. The Chairman of the Supreme Council, in accordance with the procedure established by the Rules of Procedure, shall perform full administrative functions in the building of the Supreme Council.

3. The Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council shall perform the duties of the Chairman in the event of his/her absence or in other cases provided for by legislation, as well as his/her individual assignments.

Article 13. Bureau, committees and factions of the Supreme Council🔗

1. For the organisation of the work of the Supreme Council, the Bureau of the Supreme Council is created, which is composed of the Chairperson of the Supreme Council, the Deputy Chairperson of the Supreme Council, and the chairpersons of the committees of the Supreme Council and of the factions of the Supreme Council.

2. For the purposes of preliminary preparation of legislative issues, facilitating the implementation of decisions, and control over the activities of bodies accountable to the Supreme Council, committees are created in the Supreme Council.

3. Members of the Supreme Council may unite in a faction of the Supreme Council in the manner established by the Rules of Procedure. The number of members of a faction shall not be less than three. Members of the Supreme Council elected by nomination of one political party shall not have the right to create more than one faction. The procedure for the creation and activity of a faction of the Supreme Council and its rights shall be determined by the Rules of Procedure of the Supreme Council.

Article 14. Temporary commission of the Supreme Council🔗

1. In the cases provided for by the Rules of Procedure of the Supreme Council, a temporary commission is created in the Supreme Council.

2. In the temporary commission, the factions of the Supreme Council shall be represented by at least one member each. The representation of the opposition in the temporary commission shall not be less than half of the total number of members of the commission.

3. At the request of the temporary commission, appearance at its session, as well as submission of the documents and information necessary for the examination of the issue, shall be mandatory for representatives of the bodies of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara.

Article 15. Question and interpellation of a member of the Supreme Council🔗

1. A member of the Supreme Council is entitled to address a question to the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, a member of the Government, another body accountable to the Supreme Council, a state and local self-government body existing on the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara. A timely and complete answer to a question of a member of the Supreme Council shall be mandatory.

2. A faction of the Supreme Council, a group of at least three members of the Supreme Council, has the right, by way of interpellation, to address a question to the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, another body accountable to the Supreme Council, a member of the Government, who shall be obliged to answer the question posed at a session of the Supreme Council. The answer may become the subject of discussion of the Supreme Council.

Article 16. Session and sitting of the Supreme Council🔗

1. The Supreme Council shall convene in regular session by its own right twice a year. The spring session shall open on the first Tuesday of March and shall close on the third Thursday of June, while the autumn session shall open on the first Tuesday of September and shall close on the third Thursday of December.

2. The Chairperson of the Supreme Council, upon the written request of the Chairperson of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara, of not less than one third of the members of the Supreme Council, or on his/her own initiative, shall convene an extraordinary session of the Supreme Council in the period between sessions, and during a regular session – an extraordinary sitting. If the act of convocation is not issued within 48 hours after the submission of the written request, the Supreme Council shall convene in accordance with its rules of procedure within the following 48 hours. In such case, the sitting of the Supreme Council shall be chaired by the Deputy Chairperson of the Supreme Council.

3. A list of the issues to be considered shall be attached to the written request for convening an extraordinary session or sitting.

4. An extraordinary session and sitting of the Supreme Council shall be held only with the agenda requested by the initiator and shall be closed immediately upon its exhaustion.

5. Sittings of the Supreme Council shall be public. The Supreme Council, by a majority of those present, but not less than one third of its full composition, shall adopt a decision on declaring a sitting or part of a sitting closed when considering particular issues. The decision on closing a sitting or part thereof shall be considered and adopted in closed procedure. The minutes of an open sitting of the Supreme Council shall be public.

6. Voting at a sitting of the Supreme Council shall be open or secret. Voting shall be open, except in cases provided for by the Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara or legislative acts.

7. An official appointed by the Supreme Council or with its participation shall be entitled, and upon request shall be obliged, to attend the sittings of the Supreme Council, its committee and commission, to answer the questions put at the sittings and to present a report on the activities carried out. The Supreme Council, committee or commission shall hear such official immediately upon request.

Article 17. Powers of the Supreme Council🔗

The Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara:

a) adopts the Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara and other laws of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara;

b) approves the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara;

c) is entitled, by a majority of its full composition, to express no confidence in the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara;

d) establishes the awards and honorary titles of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara;

e) exercises other powers determined by the Constitution of Georgia, the Constitutional Law of Georgia "On the Autonomous Republic of Ajara", the legislation of Georgia, the Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara and the legislation of Georgia and the Autonomous Republic of Ajara.

Article 18. Law-making and decision-making procedure🔗

1. The right of legislative initiative in the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara belongs to: the Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, a member of the Supreme Council, a committee of the Supreme Council, a faction of the Supreme Council, and at least 2,000 voters registered in the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara.

2. A law of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara shall be considered adopted if it is supported by a majority of those present, but not less than one third of the full composition of the Supreme Council, unless this Constitution provides for a different procedure for the adoption of a law.

3. Another decision of the Supreme Council shall be considered adopted if it is supported by a majority of those present, but not less than one third of the full composition of the Supreme Council, unless the legislation provides for a different procedure for the adoption of a decision.

Article 19. Signing and publication of a law🔗

1. A law adopted by the Supreme Council shall, within 5 days, be transmitted to the Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara for signing and publication.

2. A law of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, except the Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, shall be signed and published by the Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara within 10 days, or returned with comments to the Supreme Council.

3. If the Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara returns the law with comments, the Supreme Council shall vote on the comments of the Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara. To accept the comments, the same number of votes as is established for the initial adoption of the law shall be sufficient. If the comments are accepted, the final version of the law shall, within 5 days, be transmitted to the Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, who shall sign and publish it within 5 days.

4. If the Supreme Council does not accept the comments of the Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, a vote shall be taken on the initial version of the law. To adopt the initial version of the law, the support of a majority of the full composition of the Supreme Council shall be required. The final version of the law adopted by the Supreme Council shall, within 5 days, be transmitted to the Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, who shall sign and publish it within 5 days.

5. If the Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara has not signed the law within the period established by paragraph 2 of this Article and has not returned it to the Supreme Council with reasoned comments, or has not signed and published the law within the period established by paragraph 3 or 4 of this Article, the Chairman of the Supreme Council shall sign and publish it within 5 days after the expiry of the period.

6. A law shall enter into force on the 10th day after its publication in the official body, unless a different period is established by the same law.

Article 20. Termination of the Powers of the Supreme Council🔗

1. The powers of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara shall terminate upon recognition of the powers of the newly elected Supreme Council or upon entry into force of a Decree of the President of Georgia on the dissolution of the Supreme Council.

2. In the event of dissolution of the Supreme Council, the powers of the Supreme Council and of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara shall be exercised by a temporary State Council appointed by the President of Georgia. The powers of the temporary State Council shall terminate upon recognition of the powers of the newly elected Supreme Council.

3. A law adopted by the temporary State Council requires approval by the Supreme Council within one month from recognition of its powers. If the Supreme Council does not approve the law within the said period, it shall be considered invalid.

4. In the event of dissolution of the Supreme Council, extraordinary elections shall be held not earlier than the 60th and not later than the 90th day after dissolution. The President of Georgia shall schedule the extraordinary elections of the Supreme Council not later than the 60th day before the elections.

Article 21. Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara🔗

1. The Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara is the supreme executive body of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara.

2. The Government is accountable to the President of Georgia, the Government of Georgia and the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara.

3. The Government consists of the Chairperson of the Government and ministers.

4. A member of the Government shall not have the right to hold another position, except a party position, to engage in entrepreneurial activity, or to receive remuneration for other activity, except scientific, pedagogical or artistic activity.

5. The structure, powers and rules of activity of the Government shall be determined by the Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara and by a law of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, the draft of which shall be submitted to the Supreme Council by the Chairperson of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara.

Article 22. Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara🔗

1. The Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara is the highest official of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara and represents the Autonomous Republic of Ajara.

2. The Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara:

a) heads the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara;

b) in accordance with the procedure established by legislation, appoints and dismisses the ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara;

c) in accordance with the procedure established by the legislation of Georgia and the Autonomous Republic of Ajara, disposes of the property of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara;

d) submits the draft budget of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara to the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara;

e) coordinates and controls the activities of the ministers;

f) signs legal acts of the Government;

g) within the scope of his/her powers, issues an individual legal act – an Order, and performs full administrative functions in the Government building;

h) exercises other powers determined by the Constitutional Law of Georgia “On the Autonomous Republic of Ajara”, the Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara, and the legislation of Georgia and the Autonomous Republic of Ajara.

3. The Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara is accountable to the President of Georgia, the Government of Georgia and the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara for the activities of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara. He/she submits a report on the activities of the Government to the Supreme Council once a year.

Article 23. Approval of the Government🔗

1. Within 2 weeks from the recognition of the powers of the newly elected Supreme Council or from the termination of the powers of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara, the President of Georgia, after consultations with the political entities represented in the Supreme Council, submits to the Supreme Council for approval the candidacy of the Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara and the candidacies of the ministers nominated by the candidate for Chairman of the Government. The approval of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara shall be voted on as a whole. The Government of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara shall be considered approved if it is supported by a majority of the full composition of the Supreme Council.

2. If the Supreme Council does not approve the Government within 2 weeks, the President of Georgia shall, within 2 weeks, submit to the Supreme Council for approval the same or a different composition of the Government, which shall be voted on for approval within 2 weeks.

3. If the Supreme Council does not approve the Government twice in a row, the President of Georgia, with the consent of Parliament, shall dissolve the Supreme Council and call extraordinary elections of the Supreme Council.

Article 24. Declaration of no confidence🔗

1. The Supreme Council shall be entitled to declare no confidence in the Government.

2. The right to raise the question of declaring no confidence shall be vested in not less than one third of the full composition of the Supreme Council.

3. Not earlier than 7 and not later than 21 days after the Supreme Council raises the question of declaring no confidence in the Government, the Supreme Council shall, by a majority of its full composition, declare no confidence in the Government.

4. If, after the question of no confidence has been raised, the Supreme Council does not declare no confidence in the Government, the same members of the Supreme Council shall not be permitted to raise the question of no confidence during the following 6 months.

Article 25. Termination of the powers of the Government🔗

1. The powers of the Government shall be terminated:

a) upon the recognition of the powers of the newly elected Supreme Council;

b) upon the declaration of no confidence by the Supreme Council;

c) upon the resignation of the Prime Minister or the termination of his/her powers in any other manner;

d) upon the dissolution of the Supreme Council.

2. In the cases provided for by subparagraphs „a“, „b“ and „c“ of paragraph 1 of this article, the Government shall exercise its powers until the approval of the new composition of the Government.

3. In the case provided for by subparagraph „d“ of paragraph 1 of this article, the powers of the Government shall be exercised by the temporary State Council appointed by the President of Georgia.

Article 26. Termination of the powers of the Prime Minister🔗

The powers of the Prime Minister shall be terminated:

a) upon resignation;

b) upon death;

c) upon the entry into legal force of a court judgment of conviction against him/her;

d) upon the termination of the powers of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara;

e) in the case provided for by paragraph 4 of Article 21 of the Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara;

f) upon the loss of the right to vote.

Article 27. Ministries of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara🔗

1. A ministry of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara shall be established to ensure the exercise of governance in the spheres defined by the Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara, and it shall be headed by a minister.

2. Ministries of the Autonomous Republic of Ajara may be established in the spheres of: education, culture, sport, tourism, agriculture, environmental protection, finance, economy, infrastructure, health and social protection.

3. A ministry shall be accountable to the Government.

Article 28. Rule for the Adoption and Revision of the Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara🔗

1. The Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara shall be adopted and revised with the support of a two-thirds majority of the full composition of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara and shall enter into force upon the entry into force of the Organic Law of Georgia on its approval.

2. The right to submit a draft constitutional law shall be vested in the Chairperson of the Government, more than half of the full composition of the Supreme Council, and not less than 20,000 voters registered in the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara.

3. A draft constitutional law shall be submitted to the Supreme Council, which shall publish it for public discussion. Consideration of the draft constitutional law in the Supreme Council shall begin three weeks after its publication.

4. The constitutional law, together with the draft Organic Law of Georgia, shall be submitted to the Parliament of Georgia for the purpose of approval.

Batumi,

20 February 2008

No. 286 t.r.c.r.

Flag of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara

Coat of arms of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara