South Ossetia

South Ossetia

A region within the Caucasus Mountains in Georgia, South Ossetia first declared itself independent from Georgia in the early 1990s, although it has not been recognized as such by either Georgia or the international community. Russia, however, recognized the region and Abkhazia as independent nations on August 26, 2008. South Ossetia was involved in a conflict in August, 2008 when Georgian troops entered South Ossetia to fight separatists and Russia responded by sending in troops. The conflict ended in a peace agreement signed by Russia and Georgia.

Fast Facts

Population: Approximately 70,000
Capital: Tskhinvali
Languages: Ossetian, Georgian, Russian
President: Eduard Kokoiti
Major religion: Christianity

Unrecognized Independence

Shortly after the breakup of the Soviet Union, Georgia declared its independence from Russia. Despite the South Ossetian declaration of loyalty to Russia and referendums in 1992 and 2006 which showed that an overwhelming majority of citizens wished to be independent from Georgia, the region remains a breakaway state.

Related Pages on Mahalo

South Ossetia Dispute | Georgia Country | Abkhazia Crisis 2008 | South Ossetia Independence

Categories

Eastern Europe | Geography | Countries

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The Mahalo Top 7

BBC News: Regions and territories: South Ossetia
Wikipedia: South Ossetia
The Moscow Times: Russia Adds 2 New Countries to Its Map (August 27, 2008)
NPR: Georgia Blasts Russia's Recognition Of Regions (August 26, 2008)
Bloomberg.com Asia: U.S., Europe Condemn Russia Recognition... (August 26, 2008)
Guardian: Q&A: South Ossetia dispute (August 8, 2008)
YouTube: BBC Documentary: Places that Don't Exist: South Ossetia (Time: 30:00)

South Ossetia Background and Information

Wikimedia: Maps of South Ossetia
BBC News: Regions and territories: South Ossetia
Wikipedia: South Ossetia
GlobalSecurity.org: South Ossetia Background
Wikimedia: Maps of South Ossetia
Hartford-hwp.com: Brief History of South Ossetia
NationaMaster.com: South Ossetia

South Ossetia News and Articles

KVIA.com: Russian military pulls out of key Georgian areas (August 22, 2008)
Bloomberg.com: Russia Steps Up Bombing in Georgia... (August 11, 2008)
Guardian: Georgia calls for US help as Russians invade... (August 8, 2008)
BBC News: Heavy Fighting in South Ossetia (August 8, 2008)
Google News: South Ossetia Search Results
Washington Post: South Ossetia Article Archive
TimesOnline.co.uk: Georgia says Russian tanks mean 'war' in South Ossetia (August 8, 2008)
CBC: 'Russia is fighting a war with us': Georgian president (August 8, 2008)
BBC News: Heavy Fighting in South Ossetia (August 8, 2008)
The New York Times: Fiercest Fighting in Years Near Georgian Border (August 7, 2008)
Guardian: Georgia calls for US help as Russians invade to defend South Ossetia (August 8, 2008)
Slate Magazine: Return of the Cold War (May 23, 2008)
Hartford-hwp.com: ‘Last chance for peace’ in South Ossetia (August 20, 2004)
Economist.com: Former Soviet War Zones (August 19, 2004)
Time: Hastening The End of the Empire (January 28, 1991)

South Ossetia Videos and Images

Google Images: South Ossetia Images
Google Video: South Ossetia Videos
Google Video: Crossing the Georgian - South Ossetia Border (Time: 1:07)
YouTube Video: BBC Documentary: Places that Don't Exist: South Ossetia (Time: 30:00)
YouTube Video: Georgia starts war on South Ossetia (Time: 2:34)
Google Video: EuroNews Journey to South Ossetia (Time: 7:59)

South Ossetia Blogs and Communities

Google Blog Search: South Ossetia Search Results
Google Groups: South Ossetia Search Results
Jamestown.org: Moscow's Fingerprints all over South Ossetia's Referendum (November 16, 2006)
OpenDemocracy.org: South Ossetia: Russian, Georgian...independent? (November 15, 2006)