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• 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

  1. Population: Approximately 70,000
  2. Capital: Tskhinvali
  3. Languages: Ossetian, Georgian, Russian
  4. President: Eduard Kokoiti
  5. 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

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