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Politics of South Ossetia

Republic of South Ossetia

  • Республикӕ Хуссар Ирыстон (Ossetic)
    Respublikæ Khussar Iryston

  • ცხინვალის რეგიონი (Georgian)
    Tskhinvalis regioni

  • Республика Южная Осетия (Russian)
    Respublika Yuzhnaya Osetiya
Flag of South Ossetia
Emblem of South Ossetia
Flag Emblem
South Ossetia (green), Georgia, and Abkhazia (light grey).
South Ossetia (green), Georgia, and Abkhazia (light grey).
Map of South Ossetia.
Map of South Ossetia.
Capital Tskhinvali
42°14′N 43°58′E / 42.233°N 43.967°E / 42.233; 43.967
Official languages
Recognised regional languages Georgian
Government Semi-presidential republic
• President
Leonid Tibilov
Domenty Kulumbegov
Legislature Parliament
Independence from the Soviet Union
• Declared
28 November 1991
• Recognized
26 August 2008 (limited)
Area
• Total
3,900 km2 (1,500 sq mi)
• Water (%)
negligible
Population
• 2013 estimate
51,547
• 2015 census
53,532
• Density
13/km2 (33.7/sq mi)
Currency Russian ruble (RUB)
Time zone MSK (UTC+3)
Drives on the right
  1. Ossetian and Russian languages are official languages

South Ossetia (/ɒˈsɛtiə/), also known as the Tskhinvali Region, is a partially recognised state in the South Caucasus, located in the territory of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast within the former Georgian SSR. Its population of 53,000 lives in an area of 3,900 km2, south of the Russian Caucasus, with 30,000 living in its capital city of Tskhinvali.

South Ossetia declared independence from the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991. The Georgian government responded by abolishing South Ossetia's autonomy and trying to re-establish its control over the region by force. The crisis escalation led to the 1991–92 South Ossetia War. Georgian fighting against those controlling South Ossetia occurred on two other occasions, in 2004 and 2008. The latter conflict led to the Russia–Georgia war, during which Ossetian and Russian forces gained full de facto control of the territory of the former South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast.

In the wake of the 2008 South Ossetia War, Russia, followed by Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Nauru recognised South Ossetia's independence. Georgia does not recognise the existence of South Ossetia as a political entity, including most of the area in its Shida Kartli region, under the administration of the Provisional Administrative Entity of South Ossetia. Georgia and a significant part of the international community consider South Ossetia to be occupied by the Russian military. South Ossetia relies heavily on military, political and financial aid from Russia. Russia does not allow European Union Monitoring Mission monitors to enter South Ossetia.


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