View source for Place:South Ossetia

{{Short description|Partially recognised state in the South Caucasus}}
{{Redir|State of Alania|the former medieval kingdom|Alania}}
{{Pp-move}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name = Republic of South Ossetia<br>State of Alania<ref name="Constitution of the RSO">{{Cite web|url=https://rsogov.org/republic/constitution|title=Constitution|publisher=The official website of the Government of South Ossetia|access-date=2023-11-03}}</ref>
| native_name            = {{collapsible list |titlestyle = background:transparent;line-height:normal;text-align:center;font-size:84%; |title = {{resize|1.0 em|Official names}}
|{{Infobox
 |subbox=yes
 |bodystyle=font-size:80%;font-weight:normal;
 |rowclass1 = mergedrow
 |label1=[[Social:Ossetian language|Ossetian]]:
 |data1={{lang|os|'''Республикӕ Хуссар Ирыстон<br>Паддзахад Алани'''}}
<div> {{resize|90%|{{nobold|{{transl|ab|Respiblikae Khussar Iryston Paddzakhad Alani}}}}}}</div>
 |rowclass2 = mergedrow
 |label2=[[Social:Georgian language|Georgian]]:
 |data2={{lang|ka|'''სამხრეთ ოსეთის რესპუბლიკა<br/>ალანეთის სახელმწიფო'''}}
<div>{{resize|90%|{{nobold|{{transl|ab|Samkhret Osetis Resp’ublik’a Alanetis Sakhelmts’ipo}}}}}}</div>
 |rowclass3 = mergedrow
 |label3=[[Social:Russian language|Russian]]:
 |data3={{lang|ru|'''Республика Южная Осетия<br>Государство Алания'''}}  {{resize|90%|{{nobold|{{transl|ab|Respublika Yuzhnaya Osetiya Gosudarstvo Alaniya}}}}}}
}}
}}
| common_name            = South Ossetia
| image_map              = South Ossetia in its region (non-independent).svg
| map_caption            = South Ossetia (red) within Georgia (yellow)
| image_flag             = Flag of South Ossetia.svg
| flag_width             = 
| image_coat             = Coat of arms of South Ossetia.svg
| symbol_width           = 
| symbol_type            = Emblem
| national_motto         = 
| national_anthem        = <br />{{native name|os|Республикӕ Хуссар Ирыстоны Паддзахадон гимн|italics=no|nolink=yes}}<br />State Anthem of the Republic of South Ossetia{{parabr}}{{center|[[File:Anthem_of_South_Ossetia_(short_vocal).ogg]]}}
| official_languages     = {{hlist |[[Social:Ossetian language|Ossetian]] |[[Social:Russian language|Russian]]<ref name="official_languages">{{cite journal |last = Wojtasiewicz |first = Wojciech |translator-last = Bieroń |translator-first = Tomasz |date = 2011-12-01 |title = Presidential Elections in South Ossetia – Plan B |journal = New Eastern Europe |url = http://www.neweasterneurope.eu/node/117 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130509075727/http://www.neweasterneurope.eu/node/117 |archive-date = 2013-05-09 |url-status = dead |quote = The first round of voting was accompanied by a referendum in which the Ossetians were to decide whether Russian should become the second official language of South Ossetia. Nearly 85 per cent of the voters supported the referendum.}}</ref>}}
| ethnic_groups          = {{ublist |item_style=white-space:nowrap;
|89.9% Ossetians|7.4% Georgians|1.1% Russians|0.7% Armenians|0.8% other}}
| ethnic_groups_year     = 2015
| status                 = Recognised by 5 UN member states<ref name="conv">{{cite web |last1=Foltz |first1=Richard |title=South Ossetia: The case for international recognition |url=https://theconversation.com/south-ossetia-the-case-for-international-recognition-118299 |website=The Conversation |date=9 June 2019 |access-date=11 May 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
| capital                = Tskhinvali
| largest_city           = capital
| coordinates            = {{Coord|42|13|30|N|43|58|12|E|type:city|display=inline}}
| government_type        = [[Earth:Unitary state|Unitary]] [[Social:Semi-presidential republic|semi-presidential republic]]
| leader_title1          = President
| leader_name1           = Alan Gagloev
| leader_title2          = Prime Minister
| leader_name2           = Konstantin Dzhussoev
| legislature            = Parliament
| sovereignty_type       = Independence {{nobold|from [[Place:Georgia (country)|Georgia]]}}
| established_event1     = As the South Ossetian Soviet Democratic Republic
| established_date1      = 20 September 1990
| established_event2     = As the Republic of South Ossetia
| established_date2      = 21 December 1991
| area_km2               = 3,900
| area_sq_mi             = 1,506
| percent_water          = negligible
| population_estimate    = 56,520{{refn|name=2021pop}}
| population_estimate_year = 2022
| population_estimate_rank = 
| population_census      = 53,532
| population_census_year = 2015
| population_census_rank = 212th
| population_density_km2 = 13.7
| GDP_nominal            = US$100{{nbsp}}million<ref name="investrso.su">{{Cite web |url= http://investrso.su/ekonomika/valovoj-vnutrennij-produkt |title= Валовой внутренний продукт |access-date=12 April 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180413124653/http://investrso.su/ekonomika/valovoj-vnutrennij-produkt |archive-date=13 April 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| GDP_nominal_rank       = 
| GDP_nominal_year       = 2017
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = US$2,000
| calling_code           = +995 34
| currency               = Russian ruble
| currency_code          = RUB
| time_zone              = [[Moscow Time|MSK]]
| utc_offset             = +03:00
| drives_on              = right
}}

'''South Ossetia'''{{refn|group=n|{{bulleted list|{{lang-os|Хуссар Ирыстон|Xussar Iryston}}|{{lang-ru|Южная Осетия|Yuzhnaya Osetiya}}|{{lang-ka|სამხრეთ ოსეთი}} {{small|[[Social:Romanization of Georgian|romanized:]]}} {{transl|ka|samkhret oseti}}}}}} ({{IPAc-en|audio=Ossetia pronunciation.mp3|ɒ|ˈ|s|ɛ|t|i|ə}} {{respell|o|SET|ee|ə}}, {{small|less common:}} {{IPAc-en|audio=Ossetia alternate pronunciation.mp3|ɒ|ˈ|s|iː|ʃ|ə}} {{respell|o|SEE|shə}}),<ref>[https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/ossetia "Ossetia"] {{Webarchive |url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181023120304/https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/ossetia |date=23 October 2018 }}. ''Collins English Dictionary''.</ref> officially the '''Republic of South Ossetia''' or the '''State of Alania''',<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Fuller |first1=Liz |date=9 February 2017 |title=South Ossetia Referendum on Name Change Steers Clear of Thornier Unification Issue |language=en |newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/caucasus-report-south-ossetia-referendum-name-change/28298590.html |url-status=live |access-date=23 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914173029/https://www.rferl.org/a/caucasus-report-south-ossetia-referendum-name-change/28298590.html |archive-date=14 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=7 February 2017 |title=Referendum to rename South Ossetia 'Alania' set for April |url=http://oc-media.org/referendum-to-rename-south-ossetia-alania-set-for-april/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724032235/http://oc-media.org/referendum-to-rename-south-ossetia-alania-set-for-april/ |archive-date=24 July 2018 |access-date=23 July 2018 |website=OC Media |language=en-US}}</ref> is a partially recognised<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 March 2023 |title=South Ossetia profile |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18269210 |access-date=31 May 2023 |website=BBC}}</ref> [[Earth:Landlocked country|landlocked state]] in the [[Place:South Caucasus|South Caucasus]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Foltz|first=Richard|title=The Ossetes: Modern-Day Scythians of the Caucasus. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YZswEAAAQBAJ |year=2022 |location=London |publisher=Bloomsbury |isbn=9780755618453|pages = 123–144 }}</ref> It has an officially stated population of just over 56,500 people (2022), who live in an area of {{convert|3,900|sqkm}}, with 33,000 living in the capital city, Tskhinvali.

As of 2024, only five members of the {{wipe|United Nations}} (UN) recognise South Ossetia as a sovereign state{{snd}}{{wipe|Russia}}, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru, and [[Place:Syria|Syria]].<ref name="recognitions">{{cite web |date=2018-05-29 |title=Syria Recognizes Abkhazia, South Ossetia |url=https://civil.ge/archives/242795 |accessdate=2022-03-26 |work=Civil Georgia}}</ref> The Georgian government and all other UN member states regard South Ossetia as sovereign territory of Georgia [[Place:Russian-occupied territories in Georgia|occupied by Russia]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Robinson |first1=Matt |last2=Mchedlishvili |first2=Niko |date=24 October 2008 |title=Georgia seeks to isolate Russian-backed regions |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLO408907}}</ref>

The political status of South Ossetia is a central issue of the Georgian–Ossetian conflict and Georgia–Russia relations. The Georgian constitution designates the area as "the former autonomous district of South Ossetia", in reference to the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast disbanded in 1990.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Occupied Territories of Georgia. Tskhinvali region |url=http://gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=222 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823071936/http://gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=222 |archive-date=23 August 2017 |access-date=23 August 2017}}</ref> The Georgian government informally refers to the area as the '''Tskhinvali region'''{{refn|group=n|{{bulleted list|{{lang-ka|ცხინვალის რეგიონი}}, {{small|romanised:}} {{transliteration|ka|Tsxinvalis regioni}}|{{lang-ru|Цхинвальский регион|Tskhinvalskiy region}}}}}} and considers it a part of Georgia's Shida Kartli region. Lacking effective control over the territory, Georgia maintains an administrative body called Provisional Administration of South Ossetia.

The South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast, established by Soviet authorities in Moscow in 1922, declared independence from the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic in September 1990. Towards the end of 1990, the situation for ethnic Georgians in the region worsened sharply. There were reports of multiple cases of lootings and beatings committed both by Georgian and Ossetian forces and paramilitaries.<ref name="bloodshed">Human Rights Watch, [https://www.hrw.org/reports/pdfs/g/georgia/georgia.923/georgia923full.pdf Bloodshed in the Caucasus: Violations of humanitarian law in the Georgian-Ossetian Conflict]</ref> The Georgian government responded by abolishing South Ossetia's autonomy and dispatching its troops to the region.<ref name="icg-avoidwar" /> The escalating crisis led to the 1991–1992 South Ossetia War with {{wipe|Russia}}n involvement on Ossetian side.<ref name="CS">{{Cite web|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1992/0622/22022.html|title=Russians Cope With Arc of Crises|website=The Christian Science Monitor|date=22 June 1992}}</ref><ref name="Wash">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1992/06/16/russian-threatens-georgia/74219b2f-cf48-4bfc-92f6-64364aa61f63/|title=Russian threatens Georgia|newspaper={{wipe|The Washington Post}}|date=16 June 1992}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author= Robert H. Donaldson |author2= Joseph L. Nogee |title= The Foreign Policy of Russia: Changing Systems, Enduring Interests |year=2005 |publisher=M.E. Sharpe |isbn= 9780765615688 |page=199}}</ref> After the war, the conflict remained frozen throughout 1990s and saw two major escalations in 2000s: in 2004 and in 2008.<ref name="parl">{{cite web |url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/LOP/ResearchPublications/prb0836-e.htm |title=The Conflict Between Russia and Georgia |author=Jean-Rodrigue Paré |publisher=Parliament of Canada |date=13 February 2009 |access-date=19 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102030749/http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/LOP/ResearchPublications/prb0836-e.htm |archive-date=2 January 2016 |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref name="king_fivedaywar">{{Cite journal |author= Charles King |url=http://faculty.georgetown.edu/kingch/King_Five_Day_War.pdf |title= The Five-Day War: Managing Moscow After the Georgia Crisis |publisher=Georgetown University |journal=Foreign Affairs |issue=November/December |date=2008 |access-date=22 June 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140923005750/http://faculty.georgetown.edu/kingch/King_Five_Day_War.pdf |archive-date=23 September 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> The latter conflict led to the full-scale Russo-Georgian War of August 2008, during which Ossetian and Russian forces gained full ''de facto'' control of the territory of the former South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast. Since the 2008 war, Georgia and a significant part of the [[Social:International community|international community]] have regarded South Ossetia as [[Place:Occupied territories of Georgia|occupied by the Russian military]].

South Ossetia relies heavily on military, political, and financial aid from Russia.<ref name="Economy_Army">{{cite news |url= http://www.themoscowtimes.com/opinion/article/south-ossetia-looking-much-like-a-failed-state/408685.html |title=South Ossetia Looking Much Like a Failed State |agency=Associated Press |access-date=12 July 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100708042330/http://www.themoscowtimes.com/opinion/article/south-ossetia-looking-much-like-a-failed-state/408685.html |archive-date=8 July 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/08/georgia-russia-border-conflict-south-ossetia |newspaper={{wipe|The Guardian}} |first=Piotr |last=Smolar |title=Georgia wary of Russian encroachment |date=8 October 2013 |access-date=16 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306141601/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/08/georgia-russia-border-conflict-south-ossetia |archive-date=6 March 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Since 2008, the South Ossetian government has expressed their intention of joining the Russian Federation; if successful, this would end its proclaimed independence. The prospect of a referendum on this matter has been raised multiple times in domestic politics, but none have taken place.

== History ==

===Medieval and early modern period===
[[File:Colton, G.W. Turkey In Asia And The Caucasian Provinces Of Russia. 1856 (BB).jpg|thumb|left|Fragment of 1856 map by J. H. Colton depicting Caucasus region. Modern South Ossetia is located below the green "Ossia", which approximately corresponds to modern North Ossetia.]]
The Ossetians are believed to originate from the Alans, a nomadic Iranian tribe.<ref>David Marshall Lang, The Georgians, New York, p. 239</ref> In the 8th century a consolidated Alan kingdom, referred to in sources of the period as [[Place:Alania|Alania]], emerged in the northern Caucasus Mountains. Around 1239–1277 Alania fell to the Mongol and later to the Timur's armies, who massacred much of the Alanian population. The survivors among the Alans retreated into the mountains of the central Caucasus and gradually started migration to the south, across the Caucasus Mountains into the [[History:Kingdom of Georgia|Kingdom of Georgia]].<ref name=toal>{{cite book |last=Toal |first=Gerard |year=2017 |title=Near Abroad – Putin, the West, and the Contest Over Ukraine and the Caucasus |edition=1st |publisher=Oxford University Press |location={{wipe|New York City}} |pages=129–131 |language=en |isbn=978-0-19-025330-1 | access-date=2022-02-06 |url=https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1093/oso/9780190253301.001.0001/isbn-9780190253301 }}</ref>{{refn|Coene, page 151 <ref name=coene>{{cite book |last=Coene |first=Frederik |year=2010 |title=The Caucasus, an introduction |edition=1st |publisher=Routledge |location=[[Place:London|London]] |language=en |isbn=978-0-415-66683-1 | access-date=2022-02-06 | url=https://www.routledge.com/The-Caucasus---An-Introduction/Coene/p/book/9780415666831 }}</ref>}}

[[File:Map Caucasus War (1809-1817) by Anosov.jpg|thumb|left|Historical Russian map of the Caucasus region at the beginning of the 19th century]]
In the 17th century, by pressure of Kabardian princes, Ossetians started a second wave of migration from the [[Earth:North Caucasus|North Caucasus]] to the [[History:Kingdom of Kartli|Kingdom of Kartli]].<ref>{{cite book |url=http://dspace.nplg.gov.ge/bitstream/1234/8477/1/Etnosebi_Saqartveloshi.pdf |author=Merab Basilaia|script-title=ka:ეთნოსები საქართველოში|trans-title=Ethnic groups in Georgia |language=ka |date=2008 |isbn=978-9941-0-0901-3 |pages=9, 63 |publisher=Sak'art'velos Saxalxo Damc'veli |access-date=3 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808045349/http://dspace.nplg.gov.ge/bitstream/1234/8477/1/Etnosebi_Saqartveloshi.pdf |archive-date=8 August 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Ossetian peasants, who were migrating to the mountainous areas of the [[Place:South Caucasus|South Caucasus]], often settled in the lands of Georgian feudal lords.{{sfn|Ossetian Question|1994|p=38}} The Georgian King of the [[History:Kingdom of Kartli|Kingdom of Kartli]] permitted Ossetians to immigrate.{{sfn|Ossetian Question|1994|p=39}} According to Russian ambassador to Georgia Mikhail Tatishchev, at the beginning of the 17th century there was already a small group of Ossetians living near the headwaters of the Greater Liakhvi River.{{sfn|Ossetian Question|1994|p=39}}<ref>{{in lang|ru}} С. А. Белокуров. Сношения России с Кавказом, Москва, 1889, с. 508</ref> In the 1770s there were more Ossetians living in Kartli than ever before.

[[File:Ossetian expansion.svg|thumb|Ossetian migration over time]]
This period has been documented in the travel diaries of Johann Anton Güldenstädt who visited Georgia in 1772. The Baltic German explorer called modern North Ossetia simply Ossetia, while he wrote that Kartli (the areas of modern-day South Ossetia) was populated by Georgians and the mountainous areas were populated by both Georgians and Ossetians.{{sfn|Ossetian Question|1994|p=40}} Güldenstädt also wrote that the northernmost border of Kartli is the Major Caucasus Ridge.{{sfn|Ossetian Question|1994|p=37}}<ref>{{in lang|ru}} Гюльденштедт. Путешествие в Грузию, Тбилиси, 1962</ref><ref>{{in lang|ru}} Гильденштедт И. А. Путешествие по Кавказу в 1770–1773 гг. – СПб.: Петербургское Востоковедение, 2002.</ref> By the end of 18th century, the ultimate sites of Ossetian settlement on the territory of modern South Ossetia were in Kudaro (Jejora river estuary), Greater Liakhvi gorge, the gorge of Little Liakhvi, Ksani River gorge, Guda (Tetri Aragvi estuary) and Truso (Terek estuary).<ref name="Historical review">{{cite web |author=Roland Topchishvili |year=2009 |title=Georgian-Ossetian ethno-historical review |url=http://press.tsu.edu.ge/data/file_db/nashromebi/inglisuri%20osebis%20texti.pdf |location=Tbilisi |publisher=Tbilisi State University |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224094409/http://press.tsu.edu.ge/data/file_db/nashromebi/inglisuri%20osebis%20texti.pdf |archive-date=24 December 2013}}</ref>

The Georgian Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti, including the territory of modern South Ossetia, was annexed by the [[Place:Russian Empire|Russian Empire]] in 1801. Ossetia, the area comprising modern North Ossetia, was among the first areas of the [[Earth:North Caucasus|North Caucasus]] to come under Russian domination, starting in 1774.{{refn|Coene, pages 122–125 <ref name=coene />}} The capital, Vladikavkaz, was the first Russian military outpost in the region.<ref>{{cite book |last=Foltz|first=Richard|title=The Ossetes: Modern-Day Scythians of the Caucasus. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YZswEAAAQBAJ |year=2022 |location=London |publisher=Bloomsbury |isbn=9780755618453|pages = 82–83 }}</ref> By 1806, Ossetia was completely under Russian control. Ossetian migration to Georgian areas continued in the 19th and 20th centuries, when Georgia was part of the Russian Empire and Ossetian settlements emerged in Trialeti, Borjomi, Bakuriani and Kakheti as well.<ref name="Historical review"/>

In 1850 when Georgia was fully under the control of Russian Empire, Georgian powerful family Machabeli complained to Russian authorities about not being able to seize control over mountain gorges where the Ossetian populations lived.{{Disputed inline|date=February 2022|for=Claim cannot be found in given reference}} Here is what Russian officials, collegiate assessors Yanovsky and Kozachkovsky, wrote in 1831 about the relationship between Georgian feudal lords and the Ossetian population of mountain gorges in their “Notes on Ossetian gorges appropriated by the princes Eristov-Ksani”: “...{{nbsp}}in more distant gorges, such as: Magrandoletsky, Tliysky, Chipransky, Gvidisk, Knogsky and others, for which the Eristavi's declare a claim, there are no traces of their control. Before being conquered by our troops, the Ossetians living in these gorges were a model of primitive peoples. In the villages and gorges there was absolutely no order and obedience. Everyone who was able to carry weapons considered himself completely independent. The example of the Eristavi's gave rise to the princes of Machabeli to appropriate the newly conquered Ossetians living along the Bolshaya Liakhva, in the gorges of Roksky, Jomaksky, Urschuarsky, who never obeyed and did not belong to them."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://osinform.org/6192-genocid-1920-g-tradicii-nacizma-v-gruzii.html |title=Genocide 1920: Traditions of Nazism in Georgia | work=Alania Inform |date=2008-06-20 | access-date=2022-02-07 | language=ru}}</ref>

===South Ossetia as a part of the Soviet Union===
[[File:Democratic Republic of Georgia map.jpg|thumb|Democratic Republic of Georgia (1918–1921) in 1921]]
Following the Russian revolution,{{sfn|Souleimanov|2013|p=99}} the area of modern South Ossetia became part of the Democratic Republic of Georgia.{{sfn|Souleimanov|2013|pp=112–113}} In 1918, conflict began between the landless Ossetian peasants living in Shida Kartli (Interior Georgia), who were influenced by Bolshevism and demanded ownership of the lands they worked, and the [[Organization:Mensheviks|Menshevik government]] backed ethnic Georgian aristocrats, who were legal owners. Although the Ossetians were initially discontented with the economic policies of the central government, the tension soon transformed into ethnic conflict.{{sfn|Souleimanov|2013|pp=112–113}} The first Ossetian rebellion began in February 1918, when three Georgian princes were killed and their land was seized by the Ossetians. The central government of [[Place:Tbilisi|Tiflis]] retaliated by sending the National Guard to the area. However, the Georgian unit retreated after they had engaged the Ossetians.<ref>{{cite book |last=Saparov |first=Arsène |title=From Conflict to Autonomy in the Caucasus: The Soviet Union and the Making of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorno Karabakh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AW5eBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA67 |publisher=Routledge |year=2014 |isbn=9781317637844 |access-date=19 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105205905/https://books.google.com/books?id=AW5eBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA67&lpg=PA67 |archive-date=5 January 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> Ossetian rebels then proceeded to occupy the town of Tskhinvali and began attacking the ethnic Georgian civilian population. During uprisings in 1919 and 1920, the Ossetians were covertly supported by [[Place:Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic|Soviet Russia]], but even so, were defeated.{{sfn|Souleimanov|2013|pp=112–113}} According to allegations made by Ossetian sources, the crushing of the 1920 uprising caused the death of 5,000 Ossetians, while ensuing hunger and epidemics were the causes of death of more than 13,000 people.{{refn|ICG, "Georgia: Avoiding War in South Ossetia", page 3<ref name=icg-avoidwar>{{cite report |url=https://www.crisisgroup.org/europe-central-asia/caucasus/georgia/georgia-avoiding-war-south-ossetia | title=Georgia: Avoiding War in South Ossetia|id=ICG Europe Report 159| publisher=International Crisis Group |date=2004-11-26|accessdate=2022-04-03|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080813010358/http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/UNTC/UNPAN019224.pdf |archive-date=13 August 2008}}</ref>}}

[[File:Creation of South Ossetia in 1922.svg|thumb|Creation of South Ossetian AO on historical Georgian regions in 1922]]
[[File:Soviet-caucasus1922.png|thumb|Map of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast in 1922]]
[[File:Georgian soviet republic1957 1991.png|thumb|Map of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1957–1991]]

The Soviet Georgian government, established after the Red Army invasion of Georgia in 1921, created an autonomous administrative unit for [[Place:Transcaucasia|Transcaucasia]]n Ossetians in April 1922 under pressure from Kavbiuro (the Caucasian Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union), called the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast (AO).{{sfn|Ossetian Question|1994|pp=153–161}} Some believe that the Bolsheviks granted this autonomy to the Ossetians in exchange for their (Bolshevik) loyalty in fighting the Democratic Republic of Georgia and favouring local separatists, since this area had never been a separate entity prior to the Russian invasion.<ref name="roudik">{{cite web |publisher=Library of Congress |url=https://www.loc.gov/law/help/russian-georgia-war.php |title=Russian Federation: Legal Aspects of War in Georgia | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716042951/http://www.loc.gov/law/help/russian-georgia-war.php |archive-date=16 July 2014}}</ref>{{refn|De Waal et al, Beyond Frozen Conflict, chapter 6. South Ossetia Today<ref name=cepswaal/>}} The drawing of administrative boundaries of the South Ossetian AO was quite a complicated process. Many Georgian villages were included within the South Ossetian AO despite numerous protests by the Georgian population. While the city of Tskhinvali did not have a majority Ossetian population, it was made the capital of the South Ossetian AO.{{sfn|Ossetian Question|1994|pp=153–161}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://eleven.co.il/article/14652|script-title=ru:Цхинвали |work=eleven.co.il |language=ru |access-date=29 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201034959/https://eleven.co.il/article/14652 |archive-date=1 December 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> In addition to parts of Gori Uyezd and Dusheti Uyezd of Tiflis Governorate, parts of Racha Uyezd of Kutaisi Governorate (western Georgia) were also included within the South Ossetian AO. All these territories historically had been indigenous Georgian lands.{{sfn|Ossetian Question|1994|pp=72–73}}

Historical Ossetia in the North Caucasus did not have its own political entity before 1924, when the North Ossetian Autonomous Oblast was created.{{sfn|Ossetian Question|1994|pp=72–73}}

Although the Ossetians had their own language (Ossetian), Russian and [[Social:Georgian language|Georgian]] were administrative/state languages.<ref name="autogenerated2">D.M. Lang, History of Modern Georgia, 1963</ref> Under the rule of Georgia's government during Soviet times, Ossetians enjoyed minority cultural autonomy, including speaking the Ossetian language and teaching it in schools.<ref name="autogenerated2"/> In 1989, two-thirds of Ossetians in the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic lived outside the South Ossetian AO.{{sfn|Ossetian Question|1994|p=42}}

===Georgian-Ossetian conflict===

====1989–2008====
Tensions in the region began to rise amid rising nationalism among both Georgians and Ossetians in 1989.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ethnic-tensions-war-in-the-caucasus-is-stalins-legacy-899615.html |title=Ethnic tensions: War in the Caucasus is Stalin's legacy |work=The Independent |date=2008-08-17 |accessdate=2022-04-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620180716/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ethnic-tensions-war-in-the-caucasus-is-stalins-legacy-899615.html |archive-date=20 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Before this, the two communities of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast of the Georgian SSR had been living in peace with each other except for the 1918–1920 events. Both ethnicities had a normal degree of interaction and there were many Georgian-Ossetian intermarriages.{{refn|De Waal, "Beyond Frozen Conflict", 2.3.4 South Ossetia scenarios, page 44-45; 6.2 background, page 190; 6.6 Links with Georgia, page 201.<ref name=cepswaal>{{cite book | last1=de Waal | first1=Thomas |last2=Twickel |first2=Nikolaus von |year=2020 |title=Beyond Frozen Conflict – Scenarios for the Separatist Disputes of Eastern Europe |edition=1st |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield International (CEPS) |location=Londen |language=en |isbn=978-1-5381-4418-3 | url=https://www.ceps.eu/ceps-publications/beyond-frozen-conflict/| accessdate=2022-04-02 }}</ref>}}

The dispute surrounding the presence of the Ossetian people in the [[Place:South Caucasus|South Caucasus]] has been one of the causes of conflict. Although Georgian historiography believes that Ossetian mass migration to the South Caucasus (Georgia) began in the 17th century, Ossetians claim to have been residing in the area since the ancient times.,<ref name=icg-avoidwar/> which is not supported by available sources.{{sfn|Souleimanov|2013|p=119}} Some Ossetian historians accept that the migration of Ossetian ancestors to modern South Ossetia began after the Mongol invasions of the 13th century, while one South Ossetian ''de facto'' foreign minister in the 1990s said that the Ossetians first appeared in the area only in the early 17th century.<ref name="books.google.com">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2Plw98pTk5wC&pg=PA110 |title=Modern Hatreds: The Symbolic Politics of Ethnic War |author=Stuart J. Kaufman |publisher=Cornell University Press |year=2001 |isbn=0801487366 |page=98}}</ref> Since it was created after the Russian invasion of 1921, South Ossetia was regarded as artificial creation by Georgians during the Soviet era.<ref name=icg-avoidwar/>

The South Ossetian Popular Front (''Ademon Nykhas'') was created in 1988. On 10 November 1989, the South Ossetian regional council asked the Georgian Supreme Council to upgrade the region to the status of an "autonomous republic".<ref name=icg-avoidwar/> The decision to transform the South Ossetian AO into the South Ossetian ASSR by the South Ossetian authorities escalated the conflict. On 11 November, this decision was revoked by the Georgian parliament, the Supreme Soviet.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://www.vub.be/sites/vub/files/nieuws/users/bcoppiet/130zverev.pdf |last=Zverev |first=Alexei |title=Ethnic Conflicts in the Caucasus 1988–1994 |year=1996 |access-date=2022-04-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127185336/http://poli.vub.ac.be/publi/ContBorders/eng/ch0103.htm |archive-date=27 November 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Georgian authorities removed the First Party Secretary of the oblast from his position.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.caucasus.dk/chapter8.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310161808/http://www.caucasus.dk/chapter8.htm |archive-date=10 March 2011 |title=The Georgian – South Ossetian Conflict, chapter 8 & appendix |publisher=Caucasus.dk |access-date=22 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,972214,00.html |title=Hastening The End of the Empire |publisher=Time Magazine |date=1991-01-28 |accessdate=2022-04-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018061446/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,972214,00.html |archive-date=18 October 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Georgian Supreme Council adopted a law barring regional parties in summer 1990. The South Ossetian regional council interpreted this as a move against Ademon Nykhas and subsequently passed a "declaration of national sovereignty", proclaiming the South Ossetian Soviet Democratic Republic within the [[Place:Soviet Union|Soviet Union]] on 20 September 1990.<ref name="SO_timeline">{{cite web |url= http://www.geopolitics.ru/2014/01/nepriznannye-gosudarstva-yuzhnaya-osetiya/ |title= Unrecognized states: South Ossetia |language=ru |date=28 January 2014 |access-date=5 May 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140505202518/http://www.geopolitics.ru/2014/01/nepriznannye-gosudarstva-yuzhnaya-osetiya/ |archive-date=5 May 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Ossetians boycotted subsequent Georgian parliamentary elections and held their own contest in December.<ref name=icg-avoidwar/>

In October 1990, the parliamentary election in Georgia was won by Zviad Gamsakhurdia's "Round Table" block.<ref name=icg-avoidwar/> On 11 December 1990, Zviad Gamsakhurdia's government declared the Ossetian election illegitimate and abolished South Ossetia's autonomous status altogether.<ref name=icg-avoidwar/> Gamsakhurdia rationalised the abolition of Ossetian autonomy by saying, "They [Ossetians] have no right to a state here in Georgia. They are a national minority. Their homeland is North Ossetia{{nbsp}}.... Here they are newcomers."<ref name="books.google.com"/>

When the Georgian parliament declared a state of emergency in the territory of South Ossetian AO on 12 December 1990, troops from both Georgian and Soviet interior ministries were sent to the region. After the Georgian National Guard was formed in early 1991, Georgian troops entered Tskhinvali on 5 January 1991.<ref name="dk">{{cite web |url=http://www.caucasus.dk/chapter4.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310161756/http://www.caucasus.dk/chapter4.htm |archive-date=10 March 2011 |title=The Georgian – South Ossetian Conflict, chapter 4 |publisher=Caucasus.dk |access-date=22 June 2010}}</ref> The 1991–1992 South Ossetia War was characterised by general disregard for international humanitarian law by uncontrollable militias, with both sides reporting atrocities.<ref name="dk"/> The Soviet military facilitated a ceasefire as ordered by [[Biography:Mikhail Gorbachev|Mikhail Gorbachev]] in January 1991. In March and April 1991, Soviet interior troops were reported actively disarming militias on both sides, and deterring the inter-ethnic violence. Zviad Gamsakhurdia asserted that the Soviet leadership was encouraging South Ossetian separatism in order to force Georgia not to leave the Soviet Union. Georgia declared its independence in April 1991.<ref name="princeton">{{cite web |title=Georgia: Abkhazia and South Ossetia |url=https://pesd.princeton.edu/?q=node/274 |website=www.pesd.princeton.edu |publisher=Encyclopedia Princetoniensis |access-date=30 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804112845/https://pesd.princeton.edu/?q=node%2F274 |archive-date=4 August 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="books.google.com"/>

As a result of the war, about 100,000 ethnic Ossetians fled the territory and Georgia proper, most across the border into North Ossetia. A further 23,000 ethnic Georgians fled South Ossetia to other parts of Georgia.{{refn|name=hrw1996-ingush|Human Rights Watch, The Ingush-Osettian Conflict in the Prigorodnyi Region, Chapter III. Background to the Conflict, Paragraph "The Role of the South Ossetian in the Conflict".<ref name=hrw1996>{{cite web | url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/1996/Russia.htm | title=The Ingush-Osettian Conflict in the Prigorodnyi Region|publisher=Human Rights Watch/Helsinki|date=1996-05-01|accessdate=2022-04-02|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070513003516/http://hrw.org/reports/1996/Russia.htm |archive-date=2007-05-13|url-status=live}}</ref>}} Many refugees went to the North Ossetian Prigorodnyi District. In 1944, many South Ossetians were resettled in areas of North Ossetia from which the Ingush had been expelled by {{wipe|Joseph Stalin}} in 1944. In the 1990s the new wave of South Ossetians migrating to the former Ingush territory fuelled conflict between Ossetians and Ingush.{{refn|footnote 55<ref name=hrw1996/>}}<ref>{{cite report| url=http://pdc.ceu.edu/archive/00002841/ | title=Getting Back Home? Towards Sustainable Return of Ingush Forced Migrants and Lasting Peace in Prigorodny District of North Ossetia | page=10 |author=Ekaterina Sokirianskaia | publisher=[[Organization:Central European University|Central European University – Center for Policy Studies]]|year=2006|accessdate=2022-04-04}}</ref>

On 29 April 1991, the western part of South Ossetia was affected by an earthquake, which killed more than 200 and left tens of thousands homeless.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/a0c172bf49c8c9c54ba490253a768b8c | title=Aftershocks in Soviet Georgia; Death Toll Said to Rise to 300|work=AP News |date=1991-05-04|access-date=2022-04-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.radiotavisupleba.ge/amp/31230008.html | title="Mountains collided in the air" – 30 years after the Racha earthquake|work=Radio Tavisupleba |date=2021-04-29|access-date=2022-04-02}}</ref>

In late 1991, dissent was mounting against Gamsakhurdia in Georgia due to his intolerance of critics and attempts to concentrate political power.<ref name="princeton"/> On 22 December 1991, after a coup d'état, Gamsakhurdia and his supporters were besieged by the opposition, which was backed by the national guard, in several government buildings in [[Place:Tbilisi|Tbilisi]]. The ensuing heavy fighting resulted in over 200 casualties and left the center of the Georgian capital in ruins. On 6 January, Gamsakhurdia and several of his supporters fled the city for exile. Afterwards, the Georgian military council, an interim government, was formed by a triumvirate of Jaba Ioseliani, Tengiz Kitovani and Tengiz Sigua, and, in March 1992, they invited Eduard Shevardnadze, a former Soviet minister, to come to Georgia to assume control of the Georgian State Council.{{refn|Jones (2013), Chapter 4 Interregnum, page 75. ''"On March 7th, 1992, the 64-year-old pensioner Eduard Shevardnadze flew into Tbilisi."'' and ''"He was invited by the triumphant but politically inexperienced rebels – Ioselani, Kitovani, and Tengiz Sigua – to reestablish order and keep them safe"''.<ref name=jones-history>{{cite book|last=Jones|first=Stephen|title=Georgia: A Political History Since Independence|publisher=I.B. Tauris, distributed by Palgrave Macmillan|year=2013|isbn=978-1-84511-338-4}}</ref>}}<ref name=engels>{{cite thesis|last=Engels|first=R.P|title=Georgia's struggles : Conflict resolution through entrepreneurship in a fragile state|publisher=Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen|year=2009|pages=25–26|url=https://theses.ubn.ru.nl/handle/123456789/29874}}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

An independence referendum was held in South Ossetia on 19 January 1992,<ref name=DD>[http://www.sudd.ch/event.php?lang=en&id=ge011992 Süd-Ossetien (Georgien), 19. Januar 1992 : Unabhängigkeit von Georgien und Anschluss an Russland] Direct Democracy</ref> with voters being asked two questions: "Do you agree that South Ossetia should be an independent country?" and "Do you agree with the South Ossetian parliament's solution of 1 September 1991 on reunion with Russia?"<ref name=DD/> Both proposals were approved,<ref name=DD/> but the results were not recognised internationally.<ref>{{cite news |title = S.Ossetia Sets Repeat Independence Referendum |publisher = Civil Georgia |date = 2006-09-11 |url = https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=13522 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221031061813/https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=13522 |archive-date = 2022-10-31 |url-status = live}}</ref> Nonetheless, the South Ossetian regional council subsequently passed an "act of state independence" and declared the independence of the Republic of South Ossetia on 29 May 1992.<ref name="SO_timeline"/>

[[File:1993 Georgia war2.svg|thumb|Georgian Civil War from October to December 1993]]

On 24 June 1992, Shevardnadze and the South Ossetian government signed the Sochi ceasefire agreement, brokered by Russia. The agreement included obligations to avoid the use of force, and Georgia pledged not to impose sanctions against South Ossetia. The Georgian government retained control over substantial portions of South Ossetia,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2007/11/29/if-kosovo-goes-free |title=The independence precedent: If Kosovo goes free |publisher=The Economist |date=2007-11-29 |accessdate=2022-04-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107012113/http://www.economist.com/node/10225052 |archive-date=7 November 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> including the town of Akhalgori.{{refn|ICG "Georgia’s South Ossetia Conflict: Make Haste Slowly", I. Introduction: "The leadership of the former oblast retained control over the districts of Tskhinvali, Java, Znauri and parts of Akhalgori. The Tbilisi central government had authority over the rest of Akhalgori and the Georgian villages in the Tskhinvali district."<ref name=icg-hasteslowly>{{cite web |url=https://www.crisisgroup.org/europe-central-asia/caucasus/georgia/georgia-s-south-ossetia-conflict-make-haste-slowly | title=Georgia's South Ossetia Conflict: Make Haste Slowly|work=International Crisis Group |date=2007-06-07|access-date=2022-04-02}}</ref>}} A Joined Peacekeeping force of Ossetians, Russians and Georgians was established. On 6 November 1992, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) set up a mission in Georgia to monitor the peacekeeping operation. From then until mid-2004, South Ossetia was generally peaceful.{{refn|De Waal et al, Beyond Frozen Conflict, chapter 6. South Ossetia Today, page 192: "From 1992 to 2004, de facto, South Ossetia remained part of the Georgian economy and the conflict resembled that over Transdniestria, being much more a non-violent political dispute than a toxic conflict."<ref name=cepswaal/>}}{{refn|ICG, "Georgia: Avoiding War in South Ossetia", page 13 "The antismuggling operation [in 2004] had a direct effect on the security environment, as the Georgian checkpoints and increasing numbers of armed men in the zone shattered the peaceful environment and co-existence."<ref name=icg-avoidwar />}}

Following the 2003 Rose Revolution, Mikheil Saakashvili became the President of Georgia in 2004. Ahead of the 2004 parliamentary and presidential elections, he promised to restore the territorial integrity of Georgia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dfwatch.net/saakashvili-promises-georgians-nato-membership-in-2014-2014-10271 |title=Saakashvili promises Georgians NATO membership in 2014 &#124; Democracy & Freedom Watch |date=26 June 2012 |access-date=22 February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018061447/http://dfwatch.net/saakashvili-promises-georgians-nato-membership-in-2014-2014-10271 |archive-date=18 October 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> During one of his early speeches, Saakashvili addressed the separatist regions, saying, "[N]either Georgia nor its president will put up with disintegration of Georgia. Therefore, we offer immediate negotiations to our Abkhazian and Ossetian friends. We are ready to discuss every model of statehood by taking into consideration their interests for the promotion of their future development."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.saakashviliarchive.info/en/PressOffice/News?2777  |title=Speech delivered by President Mikheil Saakashvili at the Parade dedicated to the Independence Day of Georgia |publisher=The Administratin of the President of Georgia |date=2004-05-26 |access-date=2022-04-04 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121211135756/http://www.president.gov.ge/en/PressOffice/News/SpeechesAndStatements?p=2777&i=31 |url-status=live |archive-date=11 December 2012}}</ref>

Since 2004, tensions began to rise as the Georgian authorities strengthened their efforts to bring the region back under their rule, after it succeeded in Adjara. Georgia sent police to close down the Ergneti black market, which was one of the region's chief sources of revenue, selling foodstuffs and fuel smuggled from Russia. The Georgian authorities claimed the massive smuggling of goods for the Ergneti market through the Roki Tunnel, which was not under Georgian control, cost the country significant amounts of custom revenues.{{refn|ICG, "Georgia: Avoiding War in South Ossetia", page 10: ''"Georgia lost significant customs revenue due to smuggling; some calculated as much as 80 per cent. Estimates of the value vary widely from 5 to 20 million lari ($2.5 to $10 million) monthly. While some analysts consider that "the greatest part of the smuggled goods entering Georgia came from South Ossetia"''.<ref name=icg-avoidwar />}} Georgia proposed to bring the Roki tunnel under joint control and monitoring, which was refused by the South Ossetian side.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=8384 |title=Georgian State Minister to Discuss Roki Pass with North Ossetian Leader|publisher=Civil Georgia |date=2004-11-19 |accessdate=2022-04-04}}</ref> The antismuggling operation against the market resulted in a breakdown of South Ossetian trust in Georgia's intentions.{{refn|ICG, "Georgia: Avoiding War in South Ossetia", page 13: ''"Humanitarian aid from Tbilisi was received with deep suspicion. EU Special Envoy Heikki Talvitie noted "they [authorities in South Ossetia] are very much afraid. They do not have much trust towards the Georgian aid"'' and ''"By mid-June relations between ethnic Georgians and Ossetians living in villages on the outskirts of Tskhinvali had reached a low point. The antismuggling operation had a direct effect on the security environment, as the Georgian checkpoints and increasing numbers of armed men in the zone shattered the peaceful environment and co-existence"''.<ref name=icg-avoidwar />}} A wave of violence erupted between Georgian peacekeepers and South Ossetian militiamen and freelance fighters from Russia.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=7353 |title=Tbilisi Says "No" to the Use of Force, Despite Attacks on Georgian Checkpoints in South Ossetia|publisher=Civil Georgia |date=2004-07-08 |accessdate=2022-04-04}}</ref><ref name=2004timeline /> This included hostage taking of dozens of Georgian peacekeepers,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://eurasianet.org/south-ossetian-hostages-released |title=South Ossetian Hostages Released|newspaper=Eurasianet|date=2004-07-09| accessdate=2022-04-04}}</ref> shootouts and shelling of Georgian controlled villages, which left dozens dead and wounded. A ceasefire deal was reached on 13 August though it was repeatedly violated.{{refn|ICG, "Georgia: Avoiding War in South Ossetia", page 14."<ref name=icg-avoidwar />}}<ref name=2004timeline>{{cite web |url=https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=8712 |title=Timeline – 2004|publisher=Civil Georgia |date=2005-01-03| accessdate=2022-04-04}}</ref>

The Georgian government protested against the allegedly increasing Russian economic and political presence in the region and against the uncontrolled military of the South Ossetian side.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=12857 |title=Russia's Separate Funding for S.Ossetia Angers Georgia|publisher=Civil Georgia |date=2006-06-17 |accessdate=2022-04-04}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=10916 |title=Georgia's UN Envoy Slams Russia over Arming Breakaway Regions|publisher=Civil Georgia |date=2005-10-05 |accessdate=2022-04-04}}</ref>{{refn|Georgian Foreign Ministry, 22 Sep 2005: "The Georgian side has stated numerous times that the presence of uncontrolled militias is the main reason for provocations in the conflict zone and it is necessary to strengthen international control in this direction."<ref name="auto"/>}} Georgian government officials have stated South Ossetian key security positions are occupied by (former) Russian security officials,{{refn|Georgian Foreign Ministry, 22 Sep 2005: ''"According to the Georgian authorities, most of the key security positions in the South Ossetian administration are occupied by ex- or current Russian officials"''.<ref>{{cite report |url=https://www.ifri.org/en/publications/notes-de-lifri/russieneivisions/abkhazia-and-south-ossetia-collision-georgian-and |title=Abkhazia and South Ossetia: Collision of Georgian and Russian Interests |page=12 |author=Tracey German | journal=Russie.Nei.Visions | number=11 | publisher=IFRI French Institute of International Relations |date=July 2006 |accessdate=2022-04-04}}</ref>}} while some political researchers speak of institutions being outsourced to the Russian Federation.{{refn|''"The local ‘security’ institutions in Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transnistria are often headed by Russians or officials who are de facto delegated by state institutions of the Russian Federation. This most often includes staff in the local intelligence services and the defence ministries. Examples of Russians de facto delegated to the secessionist entities include defence ministers Anatoli Barankevich (South Ossetia) and Sultan Sosnaliev (Abkhazia), local intelligence chief Iarovoi (South Ossetia) and Interior Minister Mikhail Mindzaev (South Ossetia)."''<ref>{{cite report |url=https://www.ceps.eu/ceps-publications/outsourcing-de-facto-statehood-russia-and-the-secessionist-entities-in-georgia-and-moldova/ |title='Outsourcing' de facto Statehood: Russia and the Secessionist Entities in Georgia and Moldova |page=6 |author=Nicu Popescu | journal=CEPS Policy Brief | number=109 | publisher=CEPS – Centre for European Policy Studies |date=2006-07-20 |accessdate=2022-04-04}}</ref>}}

It also considered the peacekeeping force (consisting in equal parts of South Ossetians, North Ossetians, Russians and Georgians) to be non-neutral and demanded its replacement. Various proposals were launched by the Georgian side to internationalise the peacekeeping in South Ossetia.<ref name=osce2015>{{cite web |url=https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=11056 |title=Georgian PM Outlines South Ossetia Action Plan at OSCE|publisher=Civil Georgia |date=2005-10-27 |accessdate=2022-04-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=11833 |title=Resolution on Peacekeepers Leaves Room for More Diplomacy| publisher=Civil Georgia |date=2006-02-16 |accessdate=2022-04-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=13084 |title=Parliament Instructs the Government to Cease Russian Peacekeeping|publisher=Civil Georgia |date=2006-06-18 |accessdate=2022-04-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=13640 |title=GUAM Ministerial Discusses Joint Peacekeeping Forces|publisher=Civil Georgia |date=2006-09-26 |accessdate=2022-04-04}}</ref> According to U.S. senator Richard Lugar, the United States supported Georgia's call in 2006 for the withdrawal of Russian peacekeepers from the conflict zones.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=13366 |title=Senator: U.S. Not in Favor of Russian Peacekeeping| publisher=Civil Georgia |date=2006-08-23 |accessdate=2022-04-04}}</ref> Later, EU South Caucasus envoy Peter Semneby said that "Russia's actions in the Georgia spy row have damaged its credibility as a neutral peacekeeper in the EU's Black Sea neighbourhood."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://euobserver.com/foreign/22622 |title=Russia 'not neutral' in Black Sea conflict, EU says| publisher=EUobserver |date=2006-10-10 |accessdate=2022-04-04}}</ref> Joseph Biden (Chairman, U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee), Richard Lugar, and Mel Martinez sponsored a resolution in June 2008 accusing Russia of attempting to undermine Georgia's territorial integrity and called for replacing the Russian-comprised peacekeeping force operating under CIS mandate.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=18472 |title=Bush to Raise Georgia at U.S.-EU Summit| publisher=Civil Georgia |date=2008-06-05 |accessdate=2022-04-04}}</ref>

====2008 war====
[[File:SO1.jpg|thumb|South Ossetia before the war]]
Tensions between Georgia and Russia began escalating in April 2008.<ref name="shelling">{{cite web |url=http://www.rferl.org/content/Is_The_Clock_Ticking_For_Saakashvili/1199512.html |publisher=RFE/RL |author=Brian Whitmore |title=Is The Clock Ticking For Saakashvili?' |date=12 September 2008 | access-date=10 September 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903102314/http://www.rferl.org/content/Is_The_Clock_Ticking_For_Saakashvili/1199512.html | archive-date=3 September 2014 | url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="tall_order">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7364544.stm |title=Russia criticised over Abkhazia |work=BBC News |date=24 April 2008 |access-date=25 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080815002113/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7364544.stm |archive-date=15 August 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-03-25|title=2008 Georgia Russia Conflict Fast Facts|url=https://www.cnn.com/2014/03/13/world/europe/2008-georgia-russia-conflict/index.html|access-date=2021-10-16|website=CNN}}</ref> A bomb explosion on 1 August 2008 targeted a car transporting Georgian peacekeepers. South Ossetians were responsible for instigating this incident, which marked the opening of hostilities and injured five Georgian servicemen. In response,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/af25400a-739d-11dd-8a66-0000779fd18c,dwp_uuid=f2b40164-cfea-11dc-9309-0000779fd2ac.html |title=Countdown in the Caucasus: Seven days that brought Russia and Georgia to war |work=[[Social:Financial Times|Financial Times]] |date=26 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080920023223/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/af25400a-739d-11dd-8a66-0000779fd18c%2Cdwp_uuid%3Df2b40164-cfea-11dc-9309-0000779fd2ac.html |archive-date=20 September 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> several South Ossetian militiamen were hit.<ref name="feud">{{cite web |url=http://online.wsj.com/articles/SB121884450978145997 |title=Smoldering Feud, Then War |author1=Marc Champion |author2=Andrew Osborn |publisher=The Wall Street Journal |date=16 August 2008}}</ref> South Ossetian separatists began shelling Georgian villages on 1 August. These artillery attacks caused Georgian servicemen to return fire periodically from 1 August.<ref name="shelling"/><ref name="feud"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/nov/19/georgia-russia-eu-media-inquiry |title=Georgia calls on EU for independent inquiry into war |author=Luke Harding |work=The Guardian |date=19 November 2008 |access-date=14 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913101015/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/nov/19/georgia-russia-eu-media-inquiry |archive-date=13 September 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Allison">{{cite journal |author=Roy Allison |url=http://commonweb.unifr.ch/artsdean/pub/gestens/f/as/files/4760/39349_201918.pdf |title=Russia resurgent? Moscow's campaign to 'coerce Georgia to peace' |journal=International Affairs |volume=84 |issue=6 |year=2008 |pages=1145–1171 |doi=10.1111/j.1468-2346.2008.00762.x |access-date=23 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423221417/http://commonweb.unifr.ch/artsdean/pub/gestens/f/as/files/4760/39349_201918.pdf |archive-date=23 April 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/LOP/ResearchPublications/prb0836-e.htm |title=The Conflict Between Russia and Georgia |author=Jean-Rodrigue Paré |publisher=Parliament of Canada |date=13 February 2009 |access-date=19 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102030749/http://www.parl.gc.ca/Content/LOP/ResearchPublications/prb0836-e.htm |archive-date=2 January 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

At around 19:00 on 7 August 2008, Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili announced a unilateral ceasefire and called for peace talks.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=18931 |title=Saakashvili Appeals for Peace in Televised Address |publisher=Civil.Ge |date=7 August 2008 |access-date=10 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019155639/http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=18931 |archive-date=19 October 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> However, escalating assaults against Georgian villages (located in the South Ossetian conflict zone) were soon matched with gunfire from Georgian troops,<ref name="Jamestown Goals">{{cite news |url=http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Bswords%5D=8fd5893941d69d0be3f378576261ae3e&tx_ttnews%5Ball_the_words%5D=Georgia%20Moscow%20proxy&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=33872&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=7&cHash=56f9d06976 |title=The Goals Behind Moscow's Proxy Offensive in South Ossetia |newspaper=Jamestown |publisher=The Jamestown Foundation |date=8 August 2008 |access-date=25 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026162658/http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Bswords%5D=8fd5893941d69d0be3f378576261ae3e&tx_ttnews%5Ball_the_words%5D=Georgia%20Moscow%20proxy&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=33872&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=7&cHash=56f9d06976 |archive-date=26 October 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-08-09/news/0808080649_1_south-ossetia-russian-peacekeeping-troops-russian-president-dmitry-medvedev/2 |title=Georgian conflict puts U.S. in middle |publisher=Chicago Tribune |date=9 August 2008 |access-date=25 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016124315/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-08-09/news/0808080649_1_south-ossetia-russian-peacekeeping-troops-russian-president-dmitry-medvedev/2 |archive-date=16 October 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> who then proceeded to move in the direction of the capital of the self-proclaimed Republic of South Ossetia (Tskhinvali) on the night of 8 August, reaching its center in the morning of 8 August.<ref name="washingtonpost.com">{{cite news |author=Peter Finn |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/16/AR2008081600502_pf.html |title=A Two-Sided Descent into Full-Scale War |newspaper={{wipe|The Washington Post}} |date=17 August 2008 |access-date=14 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106085255/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/16/AR2008081600502_pf.html |archive-date=6 November 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> One Georgian diplomat told Russian newspaper ''Kommersant'' on 8 August that by taking control of Tskhinvali, [[Place:Tbilisi|Tbilisi]] wanted to demonstrate that Georgia would not tolerate the killing of Georgian citizens.<ref name="rmd_source_1">{{cite news |first=Olga |last=Allenova|script-title=ru:Первая миротворческая война |url=http://www.kommersant.ru/doc-y.aspx?DocsID=1009540 |publisher=Kommersant |date=8 August 2008 |language=ru |access-date=25 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080823175733/http://www.kommersant.ru/doc-y.aspx?DocsID=1009540 |archive-date=23 August 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> According to Russian military expert Pavel Felgenhauer, the Ossetian provocation was aimed at triggering the Georgian response, which was needed as a [[Pretext|pretext]] for premeditated Russian military invasion.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.jamestown.org/programs/edm/single/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=33888 |title=THE RUSSIAN-GEORGIAN WAR WAS PREPLANNED IN MOSCOW |date=14 August 2008 |author=Pavel Felgenhauer |newspaper=Jamestown |access-date=25 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140820185319/http://www.jamestown.org/programs/edm/single/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=33888 |archive-date=20 August 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> According to Georgian intelligence,<ref name="NYTFreshev">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/16/world/europe/16georgia.html |work=The New York Times |first=C.J. |last=Chivers |title=Georgia Offers Fresh Evidence on War's Start |date=15 September 2008 | access-date=14 September 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616163055/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/16/world/europe/16georgia.html | archive-date=16 June 2017 | url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref> and several Russian media reports, parts of the regular (non-peacekeeping) Russian Army had already moved to South Ossetian territory through the Roki Tunnel before the Georgian military action.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newsru.com/russia/11sep2008/voshli.html |script-title=ru:СМИ: российские войска вошли в Южную Осетию еще до начала боевых действий |publisher=NEWSru.com |date=11 September 2008 |language=ru |access-date=25 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102030749/http://www.newsru.com/russia/11sep2008/voshli.html |archive-date=2 January 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Russia accused Georgia of "aggression against South Ossetia",<ref name="roudik"/> and launched a large-scale land, air, and sea invasion of Georgia with the pretext of a "peace enforcement operation" on 8 August 2008.<ref name="Allison"/> Russian airstrikes against targets within Georgia were also launched.<ref name="radar"/> Abkhaz forces opened a second front on 9 August by attacking the Kodori Gorge, held by Georgia.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-georgia-abkhazia-kodori-idUSL932653720080809 |title=Abkhaz separatists strike disputed Georgia gorge |publisher=Reuters |date=9 August 2008 |access-date=2 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924134849/http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/08/09/us-georgia-abkhazia-kodori-idUSL932653720080809 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Tskhinvali was seized by the Russian military by 10 August.<ref name="radar">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/aug/11/georgia.russia11 |title=I got my children out minutes before the bombs fell |work=The Guardian |date=11 August 2008 |first=Luke |last=Harding |access-date=25 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305004656/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/aug/11/georgia.russia11 |archive-date=5 March 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Russian forces occupied the Georgian cities of Zugdidi,<ref name="new_front_deeper">{{cite news |publisher=Associated Press |title=Russia opens new front, drives deeper into Georgia |url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hV2N6fVKS5slf10A13Dj_uIdaZ4QD92GE8780 |date=11 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080814211308/http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hV2N6fVKS5slf10A13Dj_uIdaZ4QD92GE8780 |archive-date=14 August 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Senaki,<ref name="gori_central">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/12/world/europe/12georgia.html |work=The New York Times |first1=Michael |last1=Schwirtz |first2=Anne |last2=Barnard |first3=Andrew E. |last3=Kramer |title=Russian Forces Capture Military Base in Georgia |date=11 August 2008 | access-date=14 September 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170622164150/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/12/world/europe/12georgia.html | archive-date=22 June 2017 | url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Poti,<ref name="Russia_NYTimes">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/13/world/europe/13georgia.html |title=Russia, in Accord With Georgians, Sets Withdrawal |work={{wipe|The New York Times}} |date=12 August 2008 |first1=Andrew E. |last1=Kramer |first2=Ellen |last2=Barry |access-date=14 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109164834/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/13/world/europe/13georgia.html?_r=4& |archive-date=9 November 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> and Gori (the last one after the ceasefire agreement was negotiated).<ref name="gori_major">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/14/world/europe/14georgia.html |author=Steven Lee Myers |work=The New York Times |title=Bush, Sending Aid, Demands That Moscow Withdraw |date=13 August 2008 | access-date=14 September 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171029120128/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/14/world/europe/14georgia.html | archive-date=29 October 2017 | url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref> The Russian Black Sea Fleet blockaded the Georgian coast.<ref name="Allison"/>

[[File:Dom v Tshinvali 2.jpg|thumb|Tskhinvali in August 2008]]
A campaign of ethnic cleansing against Georgians in South Ossetia was conducted by South Ossetians,<ref name="Fact-finding">{{cite web |url=http://www.ceiig.ch/pdf/IIFFMCG_Volume_I.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007030130/http://www.ceiig.ch/pdf/IIFFMCG_Volume_I.pdf |archive-date=7 October 2009 |title=Report. Volume I |date=September 2009 |publisher=Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Conflict in Georgia |page=27}}</ref> with Georgian villages around Tskhinvali being destroyed after the war had ended.<ref name="Damage">{{cite news |title=Amnesty International Satellite Images Reveal Damage to South Ossetian Villages After{{nbsp}}... |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/2008/10/09/idUS200979+09-Oct-2008+PRN20081009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222225015/https://www.reuters.com/article/2008/10/09/idUS200979+09-Oct-2008+PRN20081009 |archive-date=22 February 2014 |publisher=Reuters |url-status=dead |date=9 October 2008}}</ref> The war displaced 192,000 people,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/4922c0b22.pdf |title=Civilians in the line of fire |publisher=Amnesty International |date=November 2008 |access-date=18 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222042133/http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/4922c0b22.pdf |archive-date=22 February 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> and while many were able to return to their homes after the war, a year later around 30,000 ethnic Georgians remained displaced.<ref>{{cite news |title=Georgia Marks Anniversary of War |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8188904.stm |date=7 August 2009 |work=BBC News |access-date=9 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808040149/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8188904.stm |archive-date=8 August 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> In an interview published in ''Kommersant'', South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity said he would not allow Georgians to return.<ref>{{cite web |script-title=ru:Эдуард Кокойты: мы там практически выровняли все |url=http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/1011783 |date=15 August 2008 |publisher=Kommersant |language=ru |access-date=28 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140916181813/http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/1011783 |archive-date=16 September 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Rights Groups Say South Ossetian Militias Burning Georgian Villages |url=http://www.rferl.org/content/Ossetian_Militias_Burn_Georgian_Villages/1292746.html |date=30 September 2008 |publisher=RFE/RL |access-date=28 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903102226/http://www.rferl.org/content/Ossetian_Militias_Burn_Georgian_Villages/1292746.html |archive-date=3 September 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

President of France Nicolas Sarkozy negotiated a ceasefire agreement on 12 August 2008.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=19069 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080812233838/http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=19069 |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 August 2008 |title=Russia Endorses Six-Point Plan |publisher=Civil.Ge |date=12 August 2008}}</ref> On 17 August, Russian president Dmitry Medvedev announced that Russian forces would begin to pull out of Georgia the following day.<ref name="http">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/17/AR2008081700294.html |title=Bush, European Leaders Urge Quick Withdrawal From Georgia |newspaper={{wipe|The Washington Post}} |date=18 August 2008 |first=Fredrick |last=Kunkle |access-date=14 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630060906/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/17/AR2008081700294.html |archive-date=30 June 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Russia recognised Abkhazia and South Ossetia as separate republics on 26 August.<ref name="kremlin">{{cite web |url=http://kremlin.ru/eng/speeches/2008/08/26/1543_type82912_205752.shtml |title=Statement by President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev |publisher=The Kremlin |date=26 August 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080902001442/http://www.kremlin.ru/eng/speeches/2008/08/26/1543_type82912_205752.shtml |archive-date=2 September 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In response to Russia's recognition, the Georgian government severed diplomatic relations with Russia.<ref name="break">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7588428.stm |title=Georgia breaks ties with Russia |work=BBC News |date=29 August 2008 |access-date=10 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006073511/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7588428.stm |archive-date=6 October 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Russian forces left the buffer areas bordering [[Place:Abkhazia|Abkhazia]] and South Ossetia on 8 October and the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia assumed authority over the buffer areas.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://civil.ge/archives/117657 |title=Russia Completes 'Most of Withdrawal' – EU Monitors |publisher=Civil Georgia|date=2008-10-08| access-date=2023-02-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://civil.ge/archives/117667 |title=Moscow Says EU Monitors Fully Control 'Buffer Zones' |publisher=Civil Georgia|date=2008-10-09| access-date=2023-02-22}}</ref> Since the war, Georgia has maintained that Abkhazia and South Ossetia are [[Place:Occupied territories of Georgia|Russian-occupied Georgian territories]].<ref name="parliament.ge">{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=98&info_id=20047 |title=Resolution of the Parliament of Georgia on the Occupation of the Georgian Territories by the Russian Federation |date=29 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080903224516/http://www.parliament.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=98&info_id=20047 |archive-date=3 September 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=19330 |title=Abkhazia, S.Ossetia Formally Declared Occupied Territory |publisher=Civil.Ge |date=28 August 2008 |access-date=30 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080903230132/http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=19330 |archive-date=3 September 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 30 September 2009, the [[Social:European Union|European Union]]–sponsored ''Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Conflict in Georgia'' stated that, while preceded by months of mutual provocations, "open hostilities began with a large-scale Georgian military operation against the town of Tskhinvali and the surrounding areas, launched in the night of 7 to 8 August 2008."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8281990.stm |title=Georgia 'started unjustified war' |work=BBC News |date=30 September 2009 |access-date=18 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420192452/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8281990.stm |archive-date=20 April 2010 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/eu-report-independent-experts-blame-georgia-for-south-ossetia-war-a-650228.html |title=EU Report: Independent Experts Blame Georgia for South Ossetia War |work=Der Spiegel |date=21 September 2009 |access-date=18 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902051536/http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/eu-report-independent-experts-blame-georgia-for-south-ossetia-war-a-650228.html |archive-date=2 September 2018 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

=== After the 2008 war ===
In 2016, a referendum on integration with Russia was proposed during an election campaign, but was put on hold indefinitely.<ref name="referendum16">{{cite web |url= https://www.rferl.org/a/georgia-russia-south-ossetia-accession-referendum-delay/27766068.html |title=South Ossetia Postpones Referendum On Accession To Russian Federation |work=Radio Free Europe | date=2016-05-30 |accessdate=2022-03-30 }}</ref> A referendum on South Ossetia's official name was held on 9 April 2017; over three-quarters of those who voted supported amendments to the South Ossetian constitution which gave the names "Republic of South Ossetia" and "State of Alania" equal status under the law.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-04-12 |title = TSIK Yuzhnoy Osetii ozvuchil okonchatelnyie itogi vyiborov prezidenta i referenduma |trans-title = CEC of South Ossetia announces final results of presidential elections and referendum |script-title = ru:ЦИК Южной Осетии озвучил окончательные итоги выборов президента и референдума |language = ru |url=http://ossetia.news/2017/04/12/tsik-yuzhnoy-osetii-ozvuchil-okonchatelnyie-itogi-vyiborov-prezidenta-i-referenduma/|website=Ossetia News}}</ref>

President Anatoly Bibilov announced on 26 March 2022 that South Ossetian troops had been sent to assist Russia in its invasion of Ukraine.<ref name="HelpProtectRussia">{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/georgian-breakaway-region-says-it-sent-troops-to-ukraine-to-help-protect-russia/|title=Georgian breakaway region says it sent troops to Ukraine to 'help protect Russia'|website=AFP via Times of Israel|access-date=March 26, 2022|date=March 26, 2022}}</ref><ref name="BreakawaySouthOssetia">{{cite web|url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/03/26/georgias-breakaway-region-sends-troops-to-ukraine-a77094|title=Georgia's Breakaway Region Sends Troops to Ukraine|date=March 26, 2022|access-date=March 26, 2022|website=The Moscow Times}}</ref> Bibilov announced on 30 March 2022 that South Ossetia would initiate the legal process to become part of Russia.<ref name="PretensesDropped">{{cite web |title=Breakaway Georgian Region Seeks to Be Putin's Next Annexation |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-30/breakaway-georgian-region-seeks-to-be-putin-s-next-annexation |website=Bloomberg |date=2022-03-30| access-date=2022-03-30}}</ref> Russian politicians reacted positively and said Russian law would permit (parts of) foreign nations to join the federation. They highlighted the necessity to "express the will of the Ossetian people" through a referendum.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://civil.ge/archives/482707 |title=Moscow Wants Referendum Before Annexing S. Ossetia |accessdate=2022-04-07 | date=2022-03-31 | work=Civil Georgia }}</ref> Ossetian leader Bibilov said in a lengthy interview that he planned to hold two referendums, one on annexation by Russia, and the second vote on joining North Ossetia,<ref>{{cite web |url= https://civil.ge/archives/483953 |title=Bibilov on Two Referendums, Unlikely 'Provocations' from Tbilisi |accessdate=2022-04-07 | date=2022-04-05 | work=Civil Georgia }}</ref> for which he set the election proceedings in motion on April 7, 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://civil.ge/archives/484565 |title=Tskhinvali Registers Group for Russian Annexation Referendum |accessdate=2022-04-07 | date=2022-04-05 | work=Civil Georgia }}</ref> On May 13, the annexation referendum was scheduled to take place on July 17.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Agence France-Presse |title=Breakaway region of Georgia to hold referendum on joining Russia |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/13/breakaway-region-of-georgia-to-hold-referendum-on-joining-russia |work=The Guardian |date=13 May 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tass.com/world/1450769|title=South Ossetia to hold referendum on accession to Russia on July 17 — presidential decree|website=TASS}}</ref> Following Biblov's defeat in 2022 election, the new president, Alan Gagloyev, suspended the referendum on May 30.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Georgian breakaway territory suspends announced referendum on joining Russia – decree |url=https://news.yahoo.com/georgian-breakaway-territory-suspends-announced-195458812.html |access-date=2022-05-30 |website=Yahoo News |date=30 May 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref> Gagloyev announced in August 2022 that border crossings with Georgia would be open ten days a month.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-18 |title=South Ossetia to partially reopen crossing points for Akhalgori Georgians |url=https://oc-media.org/south-ossetia-to-partially-reopen-crossing-points-for-akhalgori-georgians/ |access-date=2022-08-21 |website=OC Media |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Geography{{anchor|Geography}} ==
[[File:Georgia high detail map.png|thumb|Map of Georgia highlighting South Ossetia (purple) and Abkhazia (green)]]
South Ossetia is a very mountainous region located in the [[Earth:Caucasus|Caucasus]] at the juncture of Asia and Europe. It occupies the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus mountain range and its foothills which are part of the Iberia Plain, a geographic plateau that is roughly in the center of South Ossetia.{{refn|Geomorphology of Georgia, Chapter 12 "Eastern Georgia (Iveria) Intermountain Plain", page 206 "According to the orographic and morphogenetic features, the Iveria Plain is divided into several regions as follows: (1) the Shida Kartli Plain, (2) the Kvemo Kartli Plain, (3) the Iori Upland, (4) the Gombori Range, and (5) the Alazani Plain"; 12.2.2 Foothill Mountainous-Hilly Relief (of the Shida Kartli Plain), page 208<ref name="GeomorphGeorgia">{{Cite book|title=Geomorphology of Georgia|author1=Levan Tielidze|author2=Ramin Gobejishvili|author3=Levan Maruashvili|author4=Nikoloz Astakhov|language=en|url=https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-77764-1|publisher=Springer|location=|year=2019|doi=10.1007/978-3-319-77764-1 |isbn=978-3-319-77764-1|s2cid=199491923 |accessdate=2022-04-03}}</ref>}} The Likhi Range shapes the western geographic boundary of South Ossetia, although the northwestern corner of South Ossetia is located west of the range.

The Greater Caucasus Mountain Range forms the northern border of South Ossetia with Russia. There is only one main road through the mountain range from South Ossetia to Russia, the [[Place:Transcaucasian Highway|TransKAM highway]] through the Roki tunnel into North Ossetia, which was completed in 1986. The Transkam section located in South Ossetia is nominally part of the Georgian S10 highway even though Tbilisi effectively does not control that part. The Roki Tunnel was vital for the Russian military in the 2008 South Ossetia war because it is the only direct route through the Caucasus Mountains between Russia and South Ossetia.{{refn|ICG, "South Ossetia: The Burden of Recognition", page 4, footnote 29.<ref name=icg-burden />}}<ref>{{cite report| url=http://pdc.ceu.edu/archive/00002841/ | title=The Russian Military and the Georgia War: Lessons and Implications | page=13,19,24,25 |author1=Ariel Cohen | author2=Robert E Hamilton | publisher=[[Organization:Strategic Studies Institute|Strategic Studies Institute]]|date=2011-06-01|accessdate=2022-04-04}}</ref>

South Ossetia covers an area of about {{cvt|3900|km²|0}},{{refn|South Ossetia Statistical digest for January–December 2021, page 7<ref name=ugostat2021 />}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/georgia/factbox-georgias-rebel-regions-one-year-after-war |title=Factbox – Georgia's rebel regions one year after war|publisher=Reuters via Reliefweb |date=2009-08-04 |accessdate=2022-04-04}}</ref> separated by the mountains from the more populous North Ossetia (which is a republic within Russia) and extending southwards almost to the Mtkvari river in Georgia. More than 89% of South Ossetia lies over {{cvt|1000|m|0}} above sea level, and its highest point is Mount Khalatsa at {{cvt|3938|m|0}} above sea level.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://south-ossetia.info/lyubiteli-alpinizma-i-turizma-zafiksirovali-rost-xalacy/ | title=Любители альпинизма и туризма зафиксировали рост Халацы (Fans of mountaineering and tourism recorded the growth of Khalatsa) | publisher=Administration of the President of the Republic of South Ossetia|date=2015-09-20|accessdate=2022-04-04}}</ref>

Out of the roughly 2,000 glaciers that exist in the Greater Caucasus, approximately 30% are located within Georgia. The 10 glaciers of the Liakhvi River basin and a handful of the Rioni River basin are located in South Ossetia.{{refn|By 2014 the number of glaciers in the Greater Caucasus were established at 2,020 of which 637 are in Georgia (31.5%).<ref>{{cite journal| url=https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/12/81/2018/ | title=The Greater Caucasus Glacier Inventory (Russia, Georgia and Azerbaijan) |author1=Levan G. Tielidze | author2=Roger D. Wheate | journal=The Cryosphere |volume=12 | pages=81–94 | doi=10.5194/tc-12-81-2018 | publisher=[[Organization:European Geosciences Union|European Geosciences Union]]| date=2018-01-10 | issue=1 | bibcode=2018TCry...12...81T |accessdate=2022-04-04 | doi-access=free }}</ref>}}

Most of South Ossetia is in the Kura Basin with the northwestern part it in the Black Sea basin. The Likhi and Racha ridges act as divide separating these two [[Earth:Drainage basin|basins]]. Major rivers in South Ossetia include the Greater and Little Liakhvi, Ksani, Medzhuda, Tlidon, Canal Saltanis, Ptsa River and host of other tributaries.

=== Climate ===
[[File:Osetia Południowa.png|thumb|Topographic map of South Ossetia (Polish transcription)]]
South Ossetia's climate is affected by subtropical influences from the East and [[Earth:Mediterranean climate|Mediterranean]] influences from the West. The Greater Caucasus range moderates the local climate by serving as a barrier against cold air from the north, which results in the fact that, even at great heights, it is warmer there than in the Northern Caucasus.<ref name="About the Republic of South Ossetia">{{cite web |url=http://southosetia.euro.ru/en_about.html |title=About the Republic of South Ossetia |access-date=31 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105192500/http://southosetia.euro.ru/en_about.html |archive-date=5 November 2013}}</ref><ref name="South Ossetia Maps">{{cite web |url=http://www.altiusdirectory.com/Travel/south-ossetia-maps.html |title=South Ossetia Maps: Climate |publisher=ALTIUS.com |access-date=31 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105103318/http://www.altiusdirectory.com/Travel/south-ossetia-maps.html |archive-date=5 November 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Climatic zones in South Ossetia are determined by distance from the Black Sea and by altitude. The plains of eastern Georgia are shielded from the influence of the Black Sea by mountains that provide a more [[Earth:Continental climate|continental climate]].{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

The foothills and mountainous areas (including the Greater Caucasus Mountains) experience cool, wet summers and snowy winters, with snow cover often exceeding two meters in many regions. The penetration of humid air masses from the Black Sea to the west of South Ossetia is often blocked by the Likhi mountain range. The wettest periods of the year in South Ossetia generally occur during spring and autumn while the winter and summer months tend to be the driest. Elevation plays an important role in South Ossetia where climatic conditions above {{cvt|1500|m|ft|0}} are considerably colder than in any lower-lying areas. The regions that lie above {{cvt|2000|m|ft|0}} frequently experience frost even during the summer months.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

The average temperature in South Ossetia in January is around +4 degrees Celsius, and the average temperature in July is around +20.3 degrees Celsius. The average yearly liquid precipitation in South Ossetia is around 598 millimetres.<ref name="About the Republic of South Ossetia"/> In general, summer temperatures average {{cvt|20|°C}} to {{cvt|24|°C|1}} across much of South Ossetia, and winter temperatures average {{cvt|2|°C|1}} to {{cvt|4|°C|1}}. Humidity is relatively low and rainfall across South Ossetia averages {{cvt|500|to|800|mm|in|1}} per year, but [[Earth:Alpine climate|Alpine]] and highland regions have distinct microclimates. At higher elevations, precipitation is sometimes twice as heavy as in the eastern plains of Georgia. Alpine conditions begin at about {{cvt|2100|m|ft|0}}, and above {{cvt|3600|m|ft|0}} snow and ice are present year-round.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}
{{Clear}}

===Encroachment===
The Russian troops who patrol the borders of South Ossetia have reportedly been expanding the boundaries of the region through “encroaching occupation”, meaning they surreptitiously advance several feet at a time into Georgian-held territory.<ref name="encroach">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hawaiipublicradio.org/2022-03-25/near-russian-controlled-areas-of-georgia-people-are-watching-what-happens-in-ukraine|title=Near Russian-controlled areas of Georgia, people are watching what happens in Ukraine|date=25 March 2022|website=Hawai'i Public Radio}}</ref>

== Political status ==
[[File:Decree recognising South Ossetia independence.png|thumb|upright|Russian Presidential Decree No. 1261 recognising South Ossetian independence]]

Following the 2008 South Ossetia war, Russia recognised South Ossetia as independent.<ref name="join">{{cite web |author=The Earthtimes |url=http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/229515,nicaragua-joins-russia-in-recognizing-south-ossetia-abkhazia.html |title=Nicaragua joins Russia in recognizing South Ossetia, Abkhazia, 3 September 2008 |publisher=Earthtimes.org |access-date=22 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120707012512/http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/229515,nicaragua-joins-russia-in-recognizing-south-ossetia-abkhazia.html |archive-date=7 July 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> This unilateral recognition by Russia was met by condemnation from Western Blocs, such as NATO, [[Organization:Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]] (OSCE) and the European Council due to the violation of Georgia's territorial integrity.<ref name="news.bbc.co.uk">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7583164.stm |title=West condemns Russia over Georgia, BBC, 26 August 2008 |work=BBC News |date=26 August 2008 |access-date=22 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420213422/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7583164.stm |archive-date=20 April 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="civil.ge">{{cite web |url=https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=19301 |title=Scheffer 'Rejects' Russia's Move|publisher=Civil Georgia|date=2008-08-26|accessdate=2022-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607104542/http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=19301 |archive-date=7 June 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web |url=https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=19300 |title=CoE, PACE Chairs Condemn Russia's Move|publisher=Civil Georgia |date=2008-08-26 |accessdate=2022-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607101230/http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=19300 |archive-date=7 June 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite web |url=https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=19296 |title=OSCE Chair Condemns Russia's Recognition of Abkhazia, S.Ossetia|publisher=Civil Georgia |date=2008-08-26|accessdate=2022-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607105557/http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=19296 |archive-date=7 June 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> The EU's diplomatic response to the news was delayed by disagreements between eastern European states, the UK wanting a harsher response and Germany, France and other states' desire not to isolate Russia.<ref>{{wipe|Reuters}},{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/feeds/afx/2008/08/31/afx5374521.html |title=UPDATE 1-EU faces tough test of unity on Russia |website={{wipe|Forbes}} |access-date=1 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603213545/http://www.forbes.com/feeds/afx/2008/08/31/afx5374521.html |archive-date=3 June 2010}} , {{wipe|Forbes}}, 31 August 2008.</ref> Former US envoy Richard Holbrooke said the conflict could encourage separatist movements in other former Soviet states along Russia's western border.<ref>AP, [https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Georgia-The-Domino-Effect.html Russia support for separatists could have ripples], ''{{wipe|New York Times}}'', 31 August 2008.</ref> Several days later, Nicaragua became the second country to recognise South Ossetia.<ref name="join"/> Venezuela recognised South Ossetia on 10 September 2009, becoming the third UN member state to do so.<ref name="Venezuela">{{cite news |title=Venezuela recognises Georgia rebel regions – reports |url=https://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE58924U20090910 |publisher=Reuters |date=10 September 2009 |access-date=10 September 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809132226/https://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE58924U20090910 |archive-date=9 August 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Social:European Union|European Union]], Council of Europe, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and most UN member countries do not recognise South Ossetia as an independent state. The ''de facto'' republic governed by the secessionist government held a second independence referendum<ref name="autogenerated4">{{cite news |title=Georgian rebel region to vote on independence |author=Niko Mchedlishvili |publisher=Reuters |url=http://reliefweb.int/report/georgia/georgian-rebel-region-vote-independence |date=11 September 2006 | access-date=23 October 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105205905/http://reliefweb.int/report/georgia/georgian-rebel-region-vote-independence | archive-date=5 January 2016 | url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref> on 12 November 2006, after its first referendum in 1992 was not recognised by most governments as valid.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=13522 |title=S.Ossetia Sets Repeat Independence Referendum |publisher=Civil Georgia|date=2006-09-11|access-date=2022-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080813035716/http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=13522 |archive-date=13 August 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> According to the Tskhinvali election authorities, the referendum turned out a majority for independence from Georgia where 99% of South Ossetian voters supported independence and the turnout for the vote was 95%.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.regnum.ru/english/737823.html |title=99% of South Ossetian voters approve independence |work=Regnum |date=13 November 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930201431/http://www.regnum.ru/english/737823.html |archive-date=30 September 2007}}</ref> The referendum was monitored by a team of 34 international observers from Germany, Austria, Poland, Sweden and other countries at 78 polling stations.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=14058 |title=S.Ossetia Says 'International Observers' Arrive to Monitor Polls |publisher=Civil Georgia|date=2006-11-11|access-date=2022-04-02 }}</ref> However, it was not recognised internationally by the UN, European Union, OSCE, NATO and the Russian Federation, given the lack of ethnic Georgian participation and the illegality of such a referendum without recognition from the Georgian government in [[Place:Tbilisi|Tbilisi]].<ref>{{cite news |title=S. Ossetia: 99% back independence |url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/11/13/sossetia.independence.ap/index.html |agency=Associated Press |publisher=CNN.com |date=13 November 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061128192630/http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/11/13/sossetia.independence.ap/index.html |archive-date=28 November 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The European Union, OSCE and NATO condemned the referendum.

Parallel to the secessionist held referendum and elections, to Eduard Kokoity, the then President of South Ossetia, the Ossetian opposition movement (People of South Ossetia for Peace) organised their own elections contemporaneously in Georgian-controlled areas within South Ossetia, in which Georgian and some Ossetian inhabitants of the region voted in favour of Dmitry Sanakoyev as the alternative President of South Ossetia.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |url=http://www.caucaz.com/home_eng/breve_contenu.php?id=279 |title=Two Referendums and Two "Presidents" in South Ossetia |publisher=Caucaz.Com |date=20 November 2006 |access-date=22 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061128064202/http://www.caucaz.com/home_eng/breve_contenu.php?id=279 |archive-date=28 November 2006}}</ref> The alternative elections of Sanakoyev claimed full support of the ethnic Georgian population.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/georgia/georgia-results-sossetia-alternative-polls-announced |title= Georgia: Results of S.Ossetia 'alternative' polls announced| publisher=UNA Georgia via Reliefweb |date=2006-11-16 |access-date=2022-04-02}}</ref>

In April 2007, Georgia created the Provisional Administrative Entity of South Ossetia,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=15080 |title=Parliament Sets Up S.Ossetia Provisional Administration |publisher=Civil Georgia |date=2007-05-08|accessdate=2022-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008122452/http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=15080 |archive-date=8 October 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://iwpr.net/global-voices/georgias-showcase-south-ossetia-0 |title=Georgia's Showcase in South Ossetia |publisher=Institute for War and Peace Reporting |date=2008-02-02 |access-date=2022-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105205905/https://iwpr.net/global-voices/georgias-showcase-south-ossetia-0 |archive-date=5 January 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{refn|ICG "Georgia’s South Ossetia Conflict: Make Haste Slowly", Chapter II.C. "The New Temporary Administrative Unit", page 7-8.<ref name=icg-hasteslowly />}} staffed by ethnic Ossetian members of the separatist movement. Dmitry Sanakoyev was assigned as the leader of the Entity. It was intended that this provisional administration would negotiate with central Georgian authorities regarding its final status and conflict resolution.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=14865 |title=Some Details on 'S.Ossetia Administration' Emerge |publisher=Civil Georgia |date=2007-03-27 |access-date=2022-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008122803/http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=14865 |archive-date=8 October 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> On 10 May 2007, Sanakoyev was appointed by the President of Georgia as the Head of South Ossetian Provisional Administrative Entity.

On 13 July 2007, Georgia set up a state commission, chaired by the Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli, to develop South Ossetia's autonomous status within the Georgian state. According to the Georgian officials, the status was to be elaborated within the framework of "an all-inclusive dialogue" with all the forces and communities within the Ossetian society.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=15431 |title=Commission to Work on S.Ossetia Status |publisher=Civil Georgia |date=2007-07-13 |access-date=2022-04-02}}</ref>

South Ossetia, Transnistria and [[Place:Abkhazia|Abkhazia]] are sometimes referred to as post-Soviet "frozen conflict" zones.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rferl.org/a/1068578.html| title = OSCE: De Gucht Discusses Montenegro Referendum, Frozen Conflicts |work=Radio Free Europe RFE/RL |date=2006-05-23 | access-date=2023-09-07 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last = Socor |first = Vladimir|date = 2004-02-18 |title = Frozen Conflicts in the Black Sea-South Caucasus Region |publisher = Institute for Advanced Strategic and Political Studies |url = http://www.iasps.org/eng_editor/socor_show.php?lang=&main=&type=6&article_id=356 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130605100210/http://www.iasps.org/eng_editor/socor_show.php?lang=&main=&type=6&article_id=356 |archive-date = 2013-06-05 |url-status = usurped}}
</ref>

===Plans for integration with the Russian Federation===
On 30 August 2008, Tarzan Kokoity, the Deputy Speaker of South Ossetia's parliament, announced that the region would soon be absorbed into Russia, so that South and North Ossetians could live together in one united Russian state.<ref name="times0830">{{cite news |first=Tony |last=Halpin |title=Kremlin announces that South Ossetia will join 'one united Russian state' |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article4635843.ece |work=The Times |publisher=News Corp. |date=30 August 2008 |access-date=30 August 2008 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080903215639/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article4635843.ece |archive-date=3 September 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> Russian and South Ossetian forces began giving residents in Akhalgori, the biggest town in the predominantly ethnic Georgian eastern part of South Ossetia, the choice of accepting Russian citizenship or leaving.<ref>{{Cite news |last = McElroy |first = Damien |date = 2008-08-31 |title=South Ossetian police tell Georgians to take a Russian passport, or leave their homes |work = The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/georgia/2651836/South-Ossetian-police-tell-Georgians-to-take-a-Russian-passport-or-leave-their-homes.html |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180406105216/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/georgia/2651836/South-Ossetian-police-tell-Georgians-to-take-a-Russian-passport-or-leave-their-homes.html |archive-date = 2018-04-06 |url-status = live}}</ref> However, Eduard Kokoity, the then president of South Ossetia, later stated that South Ossetia would not give up its independence by joining Russia: "We are not going to say no to our independence, which has been achieved at the expense of many lives; South Ossetia has no plans to join Russia." Civil Georgia has said that this statement contradicts previous ones made by Kokoity earlier that day, when he indicated that South Ossetia would join North Ossetia in the Russian Federation.<ref name="times0830"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=19467 |title=Kokoity Reverses Remarks on S.Ossetia Joining Russia |work=Civil Georgia |date=2008-09-11 |access-date=2022-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128190101/http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=19467 |url-status=live|archive-date=28 January 2012 }}</ref>

The South Ossetian and Russian presidents signed an "alliance and integration" treaty on 18 March 2015.<ref name="integration">{{cite news |url=https://news.yahoo.com/putin-signs-treaty-integrating-south-ossetia-russia-134209512.html |agency=AP / Yahoo |title=Putin signs treaty integrating South Ossetia into Russia |date=18 March 2015 |access-date=29 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105205905/http://news.yahoo.com/putin-signs-treaty-integrating-south-ossetia-russia-134209512.html |archive-date=5 January 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> The agreement includes provisions to incorporate the South Ossetian military into Russia's armed forces, integrate the customs service of South Ossetia into that of Russia's, and commit Russia to paying state worker salaries in South Ossetia at rates equal to those in the North Caucasus Federal District.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28106 |title=Putin Endorses Draft Treaty on 'Integration' with Tskhinvali |work=Civil Georgia |date=2015-03-06 | access-date=2022-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405234301/http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28106 |url-status=live|archive-date=5 April 2015}}</ref> The Associated Press described the treaty as calling for "nearly full integration" and compared it to a 2014 agreement between Russia and [[Place:Abkhazia|Abkhazia]].<ref name="integration"/> The Georgian Foreign Ministry described the signing of the treaty as "actual annexation" of the disputed region by Russia, and the {{wipe|United States}} and [[Social:European Union|European Union]] said they would not recognise it.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28143 |title=Moscow, Tskhinvali Sign 'Integration Treaty'|work=Civil Georgia |date=2015-03-18 |access-date=2022-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402124916/http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=28143 |url-status=live |archive-date=2 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/reuters/russian-treaty-with-rebel-georgian-region-alarms-west/41332340 |agency=SWI |title=Russian treaty with rebel Georgian region alarms West |date=18 March 2015 |access-date=18 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402232546/http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/reuters/russian-treaty-with-rebel-georgian-region-alarms-west/41332340 |archive-date=2 April 2015}}</ref>

In another move towards integration with the Russian Federation, South Ossetian President Leonid Tibilov proposed in December 2015 a name change to South Ossetia–Alania – in analogy with North Ossetia–Alania, a Russian federal subject. Tibilov furthermore suggested holding a referendum on joining the Russian Federation prior to April 2017, which would lead to a united "Ossetia–Alania".<ref>{{cite news |title=Breakaway Tskhinvali proposes name change |url=http://agenda.ge/news/49405/eng |work=Agenda.ge |date=29 December 2015 |access-date=29 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105205946/http://agenda.ge/news/49405/eng |archive-date=5 January 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2016, Tibilov said he intended to hold the referendum before August of that year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18269210 |title=South Ossetia profile – BBC News |publisher=Bbc.com |date=21 April 2016 |access-date=12 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729082549/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18269210 |archive-date=29 July 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://tass.ru/en/world/868630 |title=President: South Ossetia plans to hold referendum on becoming part of Russia before August |website=TASS |access-date=24 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414172134/http://tass.ru/en/world/868630 |archive-date=14 April 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> However, on 30 May, Tibilov postponed the referendum until after the presidential election due in April 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.rferl.org/content/georgia-russia-south-ossetia-accession-referendum-delay/27766068.html |title=South Ossetia Postpones Referendum on Accession To Russian Federation |last=Fuller |first=Liz |date=30 May 2016 |newspaper=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty |language=en |access-date=30 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531110602/http://www.rferl.org/content/georgia-russia-south-ossetia-accession-referendum-delay/27766068.html |archive-date=31 May 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> At the name-change referendum, nearly 80 per cent of those who voted endorsed the name-change, while the presidential race was won by Anatoliy Bibilov – against the incumbent, Tibilov, who had been supported by Moscow and who, unlike Bibilov, was ready to heed Moscow's wish for the integration referendum not be held any time soon.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.rferl.org/a/south-ossetia-bibilov-victory-presidential-election/28424108.html |title=South Ossetia's Bibilov Wins Election, Puts Moscow in a Bind |newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date=11 April 2017 |access-date=12 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412090235/http://www.rferl.org/a/south-ossetia-bibilov-victory-presidential-election/28424108.html |archive-date=12 April 2017 |url-status=live|last1=Fuller |first1=Liz }}</ref>

On 30 March 2022, President Anatoly Bibilov announced his intention to begin legal proceedings in the near future to integration with the Russian Federation,<ref name="PretensesDropped"/> although he subsequently lost the presidency in the 2022 South Ossetian presidential election.

=== Law on occupied territories of Georgia ===
{{main|Place:Occupied territories of Georgia}}
[[File:Law of Georgia on Occupied Territories 2008.pdf|thumb|upright|"The Law of Georgia on Occupied Territories" (in Georgian), 23 October 2008]]
In late October 2008, President Saakashvili signed into law legislation on the occupied territories passed by the Georgian Parliament. The law covers the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (territories of former South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=19868 |title=Bill on Occupied Territories Signed into Law |work=Civil Georgia|date=2008-10-31 |access-date=2022-04-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128191936/http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=19868&search= |url-status=live|archive-date=28 January 2012 }}</ref><ref name=lawoccupied>{{cite web|url=https://matsne.gov.ge/en/document/view/19132?publication=6|title=Law of Georgia on Occupied Territories|publisher=The Legislative Herald of Georgia|date=2008-10-30|accessdate=2022-04-04|language=en}}</ref> The law spells out restrictions on free movement to, economic activity and concluding real estate transactions in these territories. In particular, according to the law, foreign citizens should enter the two breakaway regions only through Georgia. Entry into Abkhazia should be carried out from Zugdidi Municipality and into South Ossetia from Gori Municipality.{{refn|Article 4.1, Law on Occupied Territories.<ref name=lawoccupied />}}

The main road leading to South Ossetia from the rest of Georgia passes through the Gori Municipality. However, this road is closed in both directions at Ergneti since 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://en.hromadske.ua/posts/life-through-barbed-wire-the-georgia-south-ossetia-demarcation-line |title=Life Through Barbed Wire: The Georgia–South Ossetia Demarcation Line|work=Hromadske|date=18 February 2018 |access-date=2022-04-03 }}</ref> The main crossing point that remained open for Georgians and South Ossetians, to the Akhalgori district, has been closed by South Ossetia since 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://civil.ge/archives/477536 |title=105th IPRM Meeting Held in Ergneti|work=Civil Georgia|date=2022-03-04 |access-date=2022-04-03 }}</ref> Furthermore, the South Ossetian authorities only allow entry of foreigners "through the territory of the Russian Federation".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://mfa.rsogov.org/en/node/1398 |title=Entry procedures for foreign citizens arriving to the Republic of South Ossetia|work=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia|access-date=2022-04-03 }}</ref>

The Georgian legislation, however, also lists "special" cases in which entry into the breakaway regions will not be regarded as illegal. It stipulates that a special permit on entry into the breakaway regions can be issued if the trip there "serves Georgia's state interests; peaceful resolution of the conflict; de-occupation or humanitarian purposes."{{refn|Article 4.3, Law on Occupied Territories.<ref name=lawoccupied />}} The law also bans any type of economic activity – entrepreneurial or non- entrepreneurial, if such activities require permits, licences or registration in accordance with Georgian legislation. It also bans air, sea and railway communications and international transit via the regions, mineral exploration and money transfers.{{refn|Article 6, Law on Occupied Territories.<ref name=lawoccupied />}} The provision covering economic activities is retroactive, going back to 1990.{{refn|Article 11.2, Law on Occupied Territories.<ref name=lawoccupied />}}

The law says that the Russian Federation – the state which has carried out military occupation – is fully responsible for the violation of human rights in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The Russian Federation, according to the document, is also responsible for compensation of material and moral damage inflicted on Georgian citizens, stateless persons and foreign citizens, who are in Georgia and enter the occupied territories with appropriate permits.{{refn|Article 7, Law on Occupied Territories.<ref name=lawoccupied />}} The law also says that de facto state agencies and officials operating in the occupied territories are regarded by Georgia as illegal.{{refn|Article 8, Law on Occupied Territories.<ref name=lawoccupied />}} The law will remain in force until "the full restoration of Georgian jurisdiction" over the breakaway regions is realised.{{refn|Article 11.3, Law on Occupied Territories.<ref name=lawoccupied />}}

In November 2009, during the opening ceremony of a new Georgian Embassy building in [[Place:Kyiv|Kyiv]], Ukraine, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili stated that residents of South Ossetia and [[Place:Abkhazia|Abkhazia]] could also use its facilities: "I would like to assure you, my dear friends, that this is your home, as well, and here you will always be able to find support and understanding".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/25516.html | title=Yuschenko, Saakashvili open new building of Georgian Embassy |work=Interfax Ukraine|date=2009-11-19 |access-date=2022-04-04 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151018061450/http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/25516.html |archive-date=18 October 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Politics ==

Until the armed conflict of August 2008, South Ossetia consisted of a checkerboard of Georgian-inhabited and Ossetian-inhabited towns and villages.<ref>{{Cite news |last = Baldwin |first = Chris |date = 2008-08-08 |title = Georgia-Russia conflict could be drawn out |work = {{wipe|Reuters}}|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-georgia-ossetia-conflict-idUSL872367920080808|access-date=2023-02-18}}</ref> The largely Ossetian capital city of Tskhinvali and most of the other Ossetian-inhabited communities were governed by the separatist government, while the Georgian-inhabited villages and towns were administered by the Georgian government. This close proximity and the intermixing of the two communities has made the Georgian–Ossetian conflict particularly dangerous, since any attempt to create an ethnically pure territory would involve population transfers on a large scale.

The political dispute has yet to be resolved and the South Ossetian separatist authorities govern the region with effective independence from Tbilisi. Although talks have been held periodically between the two sides, little progress was made under the government of Eduard Shevardnadze (1993–2003). His successor Mikheil Saakashvili (elected 2004) made the reassertion of Georgian governmental authority a political priority. Having successfully put an end to the ''de facto'' independence of the southwestern province of Ajaria in May 2004, he pledged to seek a similar solution in South Ossetia. After the 2004 clashes, the Georgian government has intensified its efforts to bring the problem to international attention. On 25 January 2005, President Saakashvili presented a Georgian vision for resolving the South Ossetian conflict at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe session in Strasbourg. Late in October, Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli presented the Georgian action plan at the OSCE Permanent Council at [[Place:Vienna|Vienna]],<ref name=osce2015 /> to which the US government and the OSCE expressed their support.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=11063 |title=U.S. Hails Georgia's Peace Plan over South Ossetia|publisher=Civil Georgia |date=2005-10-29 |accessdate=2022-04-04}}</ref> The South Ossetian ''de facto'' authorities reacted by saying the plan is "not realistic" and "contains nothing new for the South Ossetian side".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=11095 |title=S.Ossetian Negotiator Comments on Georgia's Action Plan|publisher=Civil Georgia |date=2005-11-03 |accessdate=2022-04-04}}</ref> On 6 December, the OSCE Ministerial Council in [[Place:Ljubljana|Ljubljana]] adopted a resolution supporting the Georgian peace plan.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.osce.org/mc/17355 |title=Statement on Georgia at the 13th OSCE Ministerial Council, Ljubljana, 5 and 6 December 2005 (MC.DOC/4/05) |publisher=[[Organization:Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|OSCE]] |date=2005-10-29 |accessdate=2022-04-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121172847/http://www.osce.org/mc/17355 |archive-date=21 January 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=11290 |title=OSCE Ministerial Council Adopts Statement on Georgia|publisher=Civil Georgia |date=2005-12-05 |accessdate=2022-04-04}}</ref> Prior to the Ministerial Council, the Russian Foreign Ministry rejected the Georgian plan,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=11264 |title=Moscow Rejects Tbilisi's South Ossetian Action Plan|publisher=Civil Georgia |date=2005-12-03 |accessdate=2022-04-04}}</ref> saying it differed from the plan Saakashvili presented at the UN General Assembly in September 2004,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=7887 |title=Saakashvili Proposes 'Stage-by-Stage' Conflict Settlement Plan|publisher=Civil Georgia |date=2004-09-22 |accessdate=2022-04-04}}</ref> which was favoured by the South Ossetian side. After the OSCE resolution, the South Ossetian side surprised many with their own initiative reminiscent to the Georgian plan,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=11328 |title=S.Ossetian Leader Pushes Joint Plan For Conflict Resolution|publisher=Civil Georgia |date=2005-12-13 |accessdate=2022-04-04}}</ref> triggering optimism in Tbilisi.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=11377 |title=Kokoity's Proposal Triggers Cautious Optimism in Tbilisi|publisher=Civil Georgia |date=2005-12-13 |accessdate=2022-04-04}}</ref>

===Government===
According to Article 47 of the South Ossetian Constitution, the president of the Republic of South Ossetia is the [[Social:Head of state|head of state]] and head of the executive branch of government. The president of the republic is elected for five years by direct popular vote, with a maximum of two consecutive terms for the same person. South Ossetia's legislative body is the unicameral parliament, which consists of 34 members who are elected by popular vote for five years in a mixed system of 17 single-member constituencies and 17 delegates elected through [[Social:Proportional representation|proportional representation]] (article 57).<ref name=constitutionrso>{{Cite web|url=https://rsogov.org/republic/constitution |title=Конституция (Constitution) |publisher=Government of the Republic of South Ossetia |accessdate=2022-04-29|language=ru}}</ref>

Since 24 May 2022, Alan Gagloev has been the president of the republic, winning the contested election of the then incumbent Anatoly Bibilov.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Новости |first=Р. И. А. |date=2022-05-08 |title=Бибилов признал поражение во втором туре выборов президента Южной Осетии |url=https://ria.ru/20220508/bibilov-1787567774.html |access-date=2022-08-22 |website=РИА Новости |language=ru}}</ref>

===Military===

South Ossetia's armed forces in 2017 were partially incorporated into the Russian Armed Forces.<ref>{{Cite web |date = 2017-03-31 |title = Podpisano soglasheniye o vkhozhdenii chasti podrazdeleniy armii Yuzhnoy Osetii v VS RF |script-title = ru:Подписано соглашение о вхождении части подразделений армии Южной Осетии в ВС РФ |trans-title = An agreement was signed on the entry of part of the units of the South Ossetian army into the RF Armed Forces |language = ru |publisher = TASS |url = https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/4143137 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171011071716/http://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/4143137 |archive-date = 2017-10-11 |url-status = live}}</ref> The Russian armed forces have established the 4th Guards Military Base in South Ossetia, which is based in Tskhinvali, with training sites north from the city (Dzartsem) and near Java, where a branch of the base is hosted at the village Ugardanta for the Russian Airborne Forces.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://vestikavkaza.ru/news/Glavkom-Sukhoputnykh-voysk-Rossii-pribyl-s-rabochim-vizitom-v-YUzhnuyu-Osetiyu.html |title=Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces of Russia arrived on a working visit to South Ossetia| publisher=Vesti Kavkaza| language=ru |date=11 July 2012 |access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref> Furthermore, Russia has established nearly 20 so called "militarized border guard bases"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/EUR5605812019ENGLISH.pdf |title=Behind barbed wire: Human rights toll of "borderization" in Georgia| page=14 | publisher=Amnesty International|language=en |date=July 2019 |access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref> near the boundary line with Tbilisi controlled Georgia, which fall under the command and responsibility of the Russian FSB and are tasked with enforcing a "state border" between South Ossetia and Georgia.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.interfax-russia.ru/south-and-north-caucasus/news/pogranichniki-zavershili-obustroystvo-granicy-v-yuzhnoy-osetii |title=Border guards completed the arrangement of the border in South Ossetia | publisher=Interfax Russia|language=ru |date=12 July 2012 |access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://eumm.eu/data/file/6486/The_EUMM_Monitor_issue_7_ENG.pdf |title=EUMM Monitor Bulletin #7 October 2018| publisher=EUMM Georgia|language=en |date=October 2018 |access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref> An estimated 3,000–3,500 Russian servicemen are deployed in South Ossetia, while an estimated 1,500 FSB personnel are deployed at the border guard bases.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rulac.org/browse/conflicts/military-occupation-of-georgia-by-russia#collapse2accord |title=Military occupation of Georgia by Russia| publisher=Rule of Law in Armed Conflicts project (RULAC) of the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights|language=en |date=22 February 2021 |access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author1=Thomas de Waal|author2=Nikolaus von Twickel |title=Beyond Frozen Conflict |year=2020 |publisher=CEPS | via=Rowman & Littlefield International, London |isbn= 978-1-5381-4418-3 |page=196 |url=https://www.ceps.eu/ceps-publications/beyond-frozen-conflict/ |format=pdf}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) |title=The Military Balance. The Annual Assessment of Global Military Capabilities and Defence Economics |year=2018 |publisher=Routledge |isbn= 978-1857439557 |page=224}}</ref> According to South Ossetian de facto authorities, about 450 South Ossetian citizens are employed at the 4th Russian Military Base.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cominf.org/node/1166529165 |title=10 years since the signing of the Agreement on the United Russian military base in South Ossetia| publisher=RES Agency|language=ru |date=7 April 2020 |access-date=28 December 2021}}</ref>

On 26 March 2022, president Bibilov said that South Ossetia had sent troops to aid Russia during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, stating his troops "understand perfectly that they are going to defend Russia, they are going to defend Ossetia too".<ref>{{Cite web |last=AFP |date=2022-03-26 |title=Georgia's Breakaway Region Sends Troops to Ukraine |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/03/26/georgias-breakaway-region-sends-troops-to-ukraine-a77094 |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=The Moscow Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=AFP |title=Georgian breakaway region says it sent troops to Ukraine to 'help protect Russia' |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/georgian-breakaway-region-says-it-sent-troops-to-ukraine-to-help-protect-russia/ |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=www.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Roughly a quarter of these troops would desert and hitchhike back to South Ossetia. Bibilov later said that the deserters would face no punishment.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ball |first=Tom |title=Deserting South Ossetian troops hitchhike home in 'mass mutiny' |newspaper=The Times |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/deserting-south-ossetian-troops-hitchhike-home-in-mass-mutiny-7vrncmxdc |access-date=2022-08-22 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref>

== Demographics ==
[[File:Caucasus-ethnic en.svg|thumb|Ethnic map of the Caucasus from 1995<!-- For confirmation of the date see Perry–Castañeda Map Collection and the map itself --> Ossetians live in North and South Ossetia]]
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = 2015 census
|label1 = Ossetians
|value1 =89.94
|color1 = yellow
|label2 = Georgians
|value2 =7.41
|color2 = Red
|label3 = Russians
|value3 = 1.14
|color3 = navy
|label4 = Armenians 
|value4 = 0.71
|color4 = cyan
|label5 = other
|value5 = 0.81
|color5 = gray

}}

Before the Georgian–Ossetian conflict roughly two-thirds of the population of South Ossetia was Ossetian and 25–30% was Georgian. The eastern quarter of South Ossetia, around the town and district of Akhalgori, was predominantly Georgian, while the center and west were predominantly Ossetian. Much of the mountainous north is sparsely inhabited (see map at [[Social:Languages of the Caucasus|Languages of the Caucasus]]).

The Georgian 2002 census was incomplete with regard to South Ossetia, as it only took place in areas under effective Georgian control at the time. This concerned the Georgian populated areas of Akhalgori district and the Georgian communities around Tskhinvali, in the Patara Liachvi and Didi Liakhvi valleys.<ref>G. Tsuladze, N. Maglaperidze, A. Vadachkoria, Eds.,''Demographic Yearbook of Georgia: 2001'', Georgian Academy of Sciences: Institute of Demographic and Sociological Research (Tbilisi, 2002). This source reports that in January 2002 there were 37,000 Ossetians living in Georgia but excluding South Ossetia.</ref> although according to some estimates there were 47,000 ethnic Ossetians and 17,500 ethnic Georgians in South Ossetia in 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pcgn.org.uk/Georgia%20-%20South%20Ossetia-Jan07.pdf |title=Georgia: a toponymic note concerning South Ossetia |work=The Permanent Committee on Geographical Names |date=January 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070614191016/http://www.pcgn.org.uk/Georgia%20-%20South%20Ossetia-Jan07.pdf |archive-date=14 June 2007}}</ref>
[[File:Palm Sunday procession in Tskhinvali.jpg|thumb|Palm Sunday procession in Tskhinvali]]
2009 population estimate: During the war, according to Georgian officials, 15,000 Georgians moved to Georgia proper; South Ossetian officials indicate that 30,000 Ossetians fled to North Ossetia, and a total of 500 citizens of South Ossetia were killed.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=27710&Cr=Georgia&Cr1= |title=Georgia: UN continues to press for humanitarian access to victims |publisher=Un.org |date=15 August 2008 |access-date=22 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207131532/http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=27710&Cr=Georgia&Cr1= |archive-date=7 December 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Mikhail Barabanov |url=http://www.mdb.cast.ru/mdb/3-2008/item3/article1/ |title=The August War between Russia and Georgia |volume=3 |publisher=Mdb.cast.ru |issue=13 |date=2008 |access-date=22 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915220439/http://mdb.cast.ru/mdb/3-2008/item3/article1/ |archive-date=15 September 2008}}</ref>

According to the 2015 census conducted by the South Ossetian authorities, the region's total population was 53,532, including 48,146 Ossetians (89.9%), 3,966 Georgians (7.4%), and 610 Russians. The Georgian authorities have questioned the accuracy of these data.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Svanidze |first1=Tamar |title=South Ossetian Authorities Release Results of 1st Census in 26 Years |url=http://georgiatoday.ge/news/4450/South-Ossetian-Authorities-Release-Results-of-1st-Census-in-26-Years- |access-date=31 December 2017 |work=Georgia Today |date=12 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231212832/http://georgiatoday.ge/news/4450/South-Ossetian-Authorities-Release-Results-of-1st-Census-in-26-Years- |archive-date=31 December 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Estimates based on official birth rates and school attendance suggest it may have been around 39,000 inhabitants, and an independent estimate from 2009 put the population at 26,000.<ref name="3DCFTAs">{{cite book |last1=De Waal |first1=Thomas |last2=Von Twickel |first2=Nikolaus |title=Beyond Frozen Conflict: Scenarios for the Separatist Disputes of Eastern Europe |date=27 October 2020 |publisher=3DCFTAs |page=187 |url=https://3dcftas.eu/publications/beyond-frozen-conflict-scenarios-for-the-separatist-disputes-of-eastern-europe}}</ref>

According to the South Ossetian Statistical agency the population estimate was 56,520 per 1 January 2022. Of these, 33,054 lived in Tskhinvali.{{refn|name=2021pop|Page 9, Statistical Digest 2021, State Statistics of Republic of South Ossetia.<ref name=ugostat2021>{{Cite web |url=https://ugosstat.ru/statisticheskij-sbornik-za-yanvar-dekabr-2021-g/ |title=Статистический сборник за январь-декабрь 2021 г. (Statistical digest for January–December 2021) |publisher=Department of State Statistics of the Republic of South Ossetia |date=2022-03-29 |access-date=2022-07-20 |language=ru}}</ref>}}

Eastern Orthodoxy is the major religion practised in South Ossetia, by Ossetians, Georgians and Russians.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18269214 |title=South Ossetia profile |work=BBC |date=30 May 2012 |access-date=18 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219042854/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18269214 |archive-date=19 February 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! rowspan="2" | Ethnicity
! colspan="2" | 1926 census
! colspan="2" | 1939 census
! colspan="2" | 1959 census
! colspan="2" | 1970 census
! colspan="2" | 1979 census
! colspan="2" | 1989 census
! colspan="2" | 2015 census
|-
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
|-
|Ossetians
|60,351
|69.07
|72,266
|68.10
|63,698
|65.80
|66,073
|66.46
|65,077
|66.41
|65,232
|66.21
|48,146
|89.94
|-
|Georgians
|23,538
|26.94
|27,525
|25.94
|26,584
|27.46
|28,125
|28.29
|28,187
|28.77
|28,544
|28.97
|3,966
|7.41
|-
|Russians
|157
|0.18
|2,111
|1.99
|2,380
|2.46
|1,574
|1.58
|2,046
|2.09
|2,128
|2.16
|610
|1.14
|-
|Armenians
|1,374
|1.57
|1,537
|1.45
|1,555
|1.61
|1,254
|1.26
|953
|0.97
|984
|1.00
|378
|0.71
|-
|[[Religion:Jews|Jews]]
|1,739
|1.99
|1,979
|1.86
|1,723
|1.78
|1,485
|1.49
|654
|0.67
|397
|0.40
|1
|0.00
|-
|Others
|216
|0.25
|700
|0.66
|867
|0.90
|910
|0.92
|1,071
|1.09
|1,242
|1.26
|431
|0.81
|-
!Total
!87,375
!100.00
!106,118
!100.00
!96,807
!100.00
!99,421
!100.00
!97,988
!100.00
!98,527
!100.00
!53,532
!100.00
|-
! colspan="17" | Source:<ref>{{cite web |title=South Ossetia – Ethnic composition: 2015 census |url=http://pop-stat.mashke.org/rso-ethnic2015.htm |access-date=16 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706014845/http://pop-stat.mashke.org/rso-ethnic2015.htm |archive-date=6 July 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="MFA">{{cite web |url=http://archive.mid.ru//bdomp/ns-reuro.nsf/348bd0da1d5a7185432569e700419c7a/be2d70933881fb75c32579270040e8a1!OpenDocument |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018061448/http://archive.mid.ru//bdomp/ns-reuro.nsf/348bd0da1d5a7185432569e700419c7a/be2d70933881fb75c32579270040e8a1%21OpenDocument |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 October 2015 |title=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation |publisher=Republic of South Ossetia |date=22 May 2014 |access-date=28 July 2014}}</ref><ref name="censuses">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ethno-kavkaz.narod.ru/rnsossetia.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207030104/http://www.ethno-kavkaz.narod.ru/rnsossetia.html|url-status=live|title=население южной осетии|archivedate=7 February 2012|website=www.ethno-kavkaz.narod.ru}}</ref>
|}

== Economy ==
[[File:Dzuarikau-Tskhinval.jpg|thumb|right|The Dzuarikau–Tskhinvali pipeline, delivering natural gas from Russia to South Ossetia, went online in 2009.]]

South Ossetia's economy is primarily agricultural, although less than 10% of South Ossetia's land area is cultivated. Cereals, fruit and vines are the major produce. Forestry and cattle industries are also maintained. A number of industrial facilities also exist, particularly around the capital, Tskhinvali. Following the war in the 1990s, South Ossetia struggled economically. South Ossetian GDP was estimated at US$15&nbsp;million (US$250 per capita) in a work published in 2002.{{refn|ICG, "Georgia: Avoiding War in South Ossetia", page 11, based on Mamuka Areshidze, "Current Economic Causes of Conflict in Georgia", unpublished report for UK Department for International Development (DFID), 2002 (footnote 114)<ref name=icg-avoidwar />}} In 2017, the Administration of South Ossetia estimated its GDP to be nearly 100 million US dollars.<ref name="investrso.su"/> South Ossetia's [[Finance:Poverty threshold|poverty threshold]] stood at 3,062 rubles a month in the fourth quarter of 2007, or 23.5 per cent below Russia's average, while South Ossetians have incomparably smaller incomes.<ref name="delyagin">{{cite journal |last=Delyagin |first=Mikhail |date=March 2009 |title=A Testing Ground for Modernization and a Showcase of Success |journal=Russia in Global Affairs |url=http://eng.globalaffairs.ru/number/n_12538 |access-date=23 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018061448/http://eng.globalaffairs.ru/number/n_12538 |archive-date=18 October 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The majority of the population survives on subsistence farming. The South Ossetian authorities planned to improve finances by boosting the local production of flour and thus reducing the need for flour imports. For this purpose, the area planted with wheat was increased tenfold in 2008 from 130 hectares to 1,500 hectares. The wheat harvest in 2008 was expected to be 2,500 tons of grain. The South Ossetian Agriculture ministry also imported some tractors in 2008, and was expecting delivery of more farm machinery in 2009.<ref name="delyagin"/>

Before the 2008 Russo-Georgian War, South Ossetia's industry consisted of 22 small factories, with a total production of 61.6&nbsp;million rubles in 2006. In 2007, only 7 factories were functioning. In March 2009, it was reported that most of the production facilities were standing idle and were in need of repairs. Even successful factories have a shortage of workers, are in debt and have a shortage of working capital.<ref name="delyagin"/> One of the largest local enterprises is the Emalprovod factory, which has 130 employees.<ref name="delyagin"/> Additionally, after the 2008 war, Georgia cut off supplies of electricity to the Akhalgori region, which aggravated the socio-economic situation in that area.{{refn|ICG, "South Ossetia: The Burden of Recognition", page 6, "Electricity and gas, which prior to the war came from the adjacent Dusheti region, have been shut off by Tbilisi, which says it cannot control their use in Akhalgori.57 Electricity is now supplied from Tskhinvali, where authorities say they are still hopeful Georgia will resume the gas supply."<ref name=icg-burden>{{cite report |url=https://www.crisisgroup.org/europe-central-asia/caucasus/south-ossetia-burden-recognition | title=South Ossetia: The Burden of Recognition|id=ICG Europe Report 205| publisher=International Crisis Group |date=2010-06-07|accessdate=2022-04-03}}</ref>}}

By the end of 2021 the number of employed people was determined at 20,734 while 2,449 persons were registered as unemployed, on a total working age population of 34,308 (men 18–65, women 18–60).{{refn|South Ossetia Statistical digest for January–December 2021, Table 1.3, page 14; Table 2.1 & 2.3, pages 23–24<ref name=ugostat2021 />}} Virtually the only significant economic asset that South Ossetia possesses is control of the Roki Tunnel that is used to link Russia and Georgia, from which the South Ossetian government reportedly obtained a large part of its budget by levying customs duties on freight traffic before the war.{{refn|ICG, "Georgia: Avoiding War in South Ossetia", page 11, "With regards to the Ergneti market, South Ossetian authorities claim the trade was legal because they imposed custom duties on the goods from Russia. "A large part of our budget" was financed by these duties, one stated."<ref name=icg-avoidwar />}}{{refn|De Waal et al, Beyond Frozen Conflict, chapter 6. South Ossetia Today<ref name=cepswaal/>}}{{refn|chapter Between pragmatism and idealism: businesses coping with conflict in the South Caucasus: "Customs duties on the import and export of goods to and from Russia make up 90 percent of the republic’s budget", via footnote 11 citing Dzhikaev, V. and Parastaev, A. (2004) ‘Economy and Conflict in South Ossetia’ in Champain et al op. cit.<ref name=intalert>{{cite report |chapter-url=https://www.international-alert.org/publications/local-business-local-peace/ | title=Local business, local peace: The peacebuilding potential of the domestic private sector|chapter=Section 2: South Caucasus case study (English) | publisher=International Alert |date=2006-07-01|accessdate=2022-04-03}}</ref>}}

Since the 2008 war South Ossetia and its economy is critically dependent on Russian economic assistance,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/19/world/europe/south-ossetia-crimea.html?_r=0 |title=If History Is a Guide, Crimeans' Celebration May Be Short-Lived |last1=Vartanyan |first1=Olesya |last2=Barry |first2=Ellen |date=18 March 2014 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=5 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006213326/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/19/world/europe/south-ossetia-crimea.html?_r=0 |archive-date=6 October 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> and a year after the war former President Edurard Kokoity was grateful for the Russian aid for reconstruction work.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://vz.ru/news/2009/8/26/321335.html |title=Кокойты рассчитывает на расширение признания Юж.Осетии (Kokoity counts on expanding recognition of South Ossetia) |work=Delovaya Gazeta |date=2009-08-26 |accessdate=2022-04-03 |language=ru}}</ref> According to reports Russian donations made up nearly 99% of the budget of South Ossetia by 2010.{{refn|ICG, "South Ossetia: The Burden of Recognition", page 4, " The budget may have increased by half, from 2.7 billion roubles ($87 million) in 2009 to 4.3 billion roubles ($140 million) in 2010, but 98.7 per cent of the total is Russian aid"<ref name=icg-burden />}} By 2021 this has been reduced to 83%.{{refn|South Ossetia Statistical digest for January–December 2021, Table 17.1, page 169-170: Financial assistance to the Republic of South Ossetia of the Russian Federation 7.3 billion rubles ($85m) on a total budget of 8.8 billion rubles ($103m).<ref name=ugostat2021 />}}
A new backup power transmission line running from Russia to South Ossetia was put into operation in November 2021 helping to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the region. It cost more than 1.3 billion rubles ($17m) to construct and was built within the framework of the Russian Investment program in South Ossetia.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-26 |title=Anatoly Bibilov took part in the ceremony of launching a backup power line|url=https://presidentruo.org/anatolij-bibilov-prinyal-uchastie-v-tozhestvennoj-ceremonii-zapuska-rezervnoj-lep/ |access-date=2022-08-29 |work=Administration of the President of the Republic of South Ossetia |language=ru}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-30 |title=Tskhinvali, Moscow Launch Backup Power Line |url=https://civil.ge/archives/458672 |access-date=2022-08-28 |website=Civil.ge |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2016, Armenia tried to persuade Georgia to open a transit route between Georgia and South Ossetia, but Georgia refused.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Armenia, Georgia Considered South Ossetia as Trade Route to Russia {{!}} Eurasianet |url=https://eurasianet.org/armenia-georgia-considered-south-ossetia-trade-route-russia |access-date=2022-12-08 |newspaper=Eurasianet |language=en}}</ref>

The socio-economic development program of South Ossetia for the 2022–2025 period is financed by Russia.The Aim of the program is for South Ossetia to reach the socio-economic indicators of the North Caucasus Federal District in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-25 |title=The program of socio – economic development, security issues were discussed in Tskhinval with the participation of representatives of Russia |url=http://cominf.org/en/node/1166539943 |access-date=2022-08-28 |website=Государственное информационное агентство "Рес" |language=ru}}</ref>

== Culture ==

=== Education ===
The country's principal university is [[Organization:South Ossetian State University|South Ossetian State University]] in Tskhinvali.<ref name="uwn">{{cite journal |last1=Holdsworth |first1=Nick |year=2008 |title=Students seek refuge in Russian HE |journal=University World News |issue=42 |publisher=Higher Education Web Publishing |issn=1756-297X |url=http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20080828144518636 |access-date=20 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213185408/http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20080828144518636 |archive-date=13 February 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> After the Russo-Georgian War in 2008, education officials attempted to place most university-bound students from South Ossetia in Russian post-secondary education institutions.<ref name="uwn"/>

=== Public Holidays ===

== See also ==
* North Ossetia-Alania
* 2008 Georgia–Russia crisis
* Abkhazia–South Ossetia relations
* [[Organization:Community for Democracy and Rights of Nations|Community for Democracy and Rights of Nations]]
* Donetsk People's Republic–South Ossetia relations
* Military of South Ossetia
* Russia–South Ossetia relations
* South Ossetian passport
* Vehicle registration plates of South Ossetia
* List of states with limited recognition

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=n}}

== References ==

=== Citations ===
{{Reflist|30em}}

=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=Foltz|first=Richard|title=The Ossetes: Modern-Day Scythians of the Caucasus. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YZswEAAAQBAJ |year=2022 |location=London |publisher=Bloomsbury |isbn=9780755618453|}}
* {{cite book |url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/24546385/ОСЕТИНСКИЙ-ВОПРОС |script-title=ru:ОСЕТИНСКИЙ ВОПРОС |trans-title=Ossetian Question |location=Tbilisi |year=1994 |language=ru |ref={{sfnref|Ossetian Question|1994}} |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140621061138/http://www.scribd.com/doc/24546385/%D0%9E%D0%A1%D0%95%D0%A2%D0%98%D0%9D%D0%A1%D0%9A%D0%98%D0%99-%D0%92%D0%9E%D0%9F%D0%A0%D0%9E%D0%A1 |archive-date=21 June 2014 }}
* {{cite book |last=Souleimanov |first=Emil |title=Understanding Ethnopolitical Conflict: Karabakh, South Ossetia, and Abkhazia Wars Reconsidered |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6fczAAAAQBAJ |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2013 |isbn=9781137280237}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
* [http://presidentruo.org/ President of Republic of South Ossetia (in Russian)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090610071936/http://alertnet.org/db/crisisprofiles/GG_OSS.htm?v=in_detail Crisis profile, Georgia, Abkhazia, S. Ossetia] From [http://alertnet.org/ Reuters Alertnet]
* [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-18269210 BBC overview of South Ossetia]
* [http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/ubbthreads.php?ubb=download&Number=852911&filename=Border%20South%20Ossetia.kmz Border South Ossetia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120041259/http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/ubbthreads.php?ubb=download&Number=852911&filename=Border%20South%20Ossetia.kmz |date=20 January 2012 }} for use in [[Software:Google Earth|Google Earth]]
* [http://ossetia.guide/ South Ossetia travel guide] made by Russian team of explorers

{{Navboxes
|state = expanded
|title = Related topics
|list = 
}}
{{Coord|42|21|N|44|6|E|type:country|display=title}}

[[Category:South Caucasus]]

{{Sourceattribution|South Ossetia}}