Authors: D. V. Zayats (General Information, Population, Economy), M. N. Petrushina (Nature: physical and geographical essay), A. Yu. Skakov (Historical essay: archeology, history, medieval archeology with the participation of R. G . Dzattiats), A. A. Slanov (Historical essay)Authors: D. V. Zayats (General information, Population, Economy), M. N. Petrushina (Nature: physical and geographical essay), A. Yu. Skakov (Historical essay: archeology; >>

SOUTH OSSETIA (Khussar Iryston), Republic of South Ossetia (Republic of Khussar Iryston).

General information

Yu. O. is a partially recognized state in Transcaucasia. It borders in the north with Russia, in the west, south and east with Georgia. Pl. 3.9 thousand km 2 . Us. 53.5 thousand people(2015, census). The capital is Tskhinvali. Official languages ​​- Ossetian, Russian and Georgian (in places densely populated by Georgians). Monetary unit - grew. ruble. Adm.-terr. division: 4 districts and the city of republican subordination Tskhinval (table).

Administrative-territorial division (2015)

Political system

Yu. O. - unitary state. The constitution was adopted by referendum on 8.4.2001. The form of government is a presidential republic.

The head of state will execute. authorities - the president, elected by the population for 5 years (with the right of one re-election). The candidate must be a citizen of Yu. O., reach the age of 35 years, own state. languages ​​of the republic and permanently reside in the territory of Yu. O. for the last 10 years preceding the day of registration as a candidate. The President determines directions of domestic and foreign policy of the state-va, represents Yu. O. within the country and in the international. relationships.

Supreme legislator. body is a unicameral parliament. Consists of 34 deputies elected for 5 years (17 deputies are elected in single-member electoral districts, 17 - in a proportional electoral system in a single republican electoral district).

Supreme performer. body is the government. The President as the head will execute. power determines the main. directions of government activity and organizes its work. Members of the government bear individual responsibility to the parliament and collective responsibility to the president.

Nature

Relief

Yu. O. occupies the south. slopes center. parts Greater Caucasus and sowing part of the Inner Kartli Plain. Almost 90% of the territory is represented by mid-mountain erosion-denudation (altitude 1000–2000 m) and high-mountain (above 2000 m) paleoglacial relief. All in. parts stretch the ridges Tualsky (Dvaletsky; height up to 3938 m, Mount Khalatsa - the highest point of Yu.O.), Khadsky (Mtiuletsky), Syrkhlabirdsky (Rachinsky), Kudarsky (Kudaroysky), Kortokhsky (Likhsky), Galavdursky (Kharulsky), Kudikomsky (Lomissky) and others, dissected by deep gorges. Passes through the Main, or Watershed, ridge of the Greater Caucasus (the main pass is Roksky high. 2995 m) connect Yu. O. with the North. Ossetia (Russia). In the northeast, on a high-mountain volcanic The cones of extinct volcanoes Kel (height 3628 m), Khorisar (3736 m), Fidarhokh (3050 m) and others rise up in the Kel Highlands. The mountainous regions are avalanche and mudflow prone, and erosion is intense. Developed karst.

Geological structure and minerals

The territory is located within the Caucasian segment Alpine-Himalayan mobile belt. Sev. part belongs to the fold-covering system of the Greater Caucasus of Alpine age. Terrigenous, terrigenous-carbonate and carbonate flysch of the Upper Jurassic, Cretaceous and early Paleogene are crumpled into folds disturbed by thrusts. In the south a part enters the Transcaucasian massif with a late Proterozoic-Cambrian folded base and a Mesozoic sedimentary-volcanogenic cover; an intermountain depression filled with Neogene-Quaternary clastic molasse is superimposed on the massif. Along the north the boundaries of the massif distinguish the Gagra-Dzhavskaya folded zone, composed of volcanic and sedimentary rocks of the Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous. High seismicity is characteristic. Settlements in Yu. O. were badly damaged by the Racha-Dzau (Racha-Java) earthquake of April 29, 1991 (magnitude 6.9, intensity 9–10 points); died St. 100 people

There are deposits of lead-zinc ores (Kvaisinskoe; it also includes significant reserves of barite), decomp. natural builds. materials, miner. waters (Dzauskoe, or Dzhavskoe).

Climate

The climate of Yu. O. varies with elevation from moderately dry to warm, with cool winters and hot summers in the southeast. parts to humid, with cold long winters and cool summers above 2000 m and humid, cold throughout the year above 3000 m - in the north. Wed January temperatures -1 ° C in Tskhinvali (867 m), at high. up to 2000 m from -3 to -8 °C, above - from -12 to -14 °C, July 20.6 °C, 8-13 °C, 4-2 °C, respectively. Annual precipitation increases from 600 mm in the plains to 1000–1800 mm in the highlands. The snow border lies at vys. 3200–3300 m. glaciation is insignificant, the largest glacier is Lagzzigi (area approx. 1.8 km 2).

Inland waters

The greater part of the rivers belongs to the basin of the Caspian Cape [Bolshaya Liakhva (Bolshaya Liakhvi) and Malaya Liakhva (Little Liakhvi), Chisandon (Ksani), Medzida (Medjuda)], the smaller one belongs to the basin of the Black Cape [Karganagdon (Kvirila), Jojora]. Feeding rivers preim. snow and rain. Max. runoff in May - early June, low water in the 2nd half of summer and winter. The waterfalls of Let (on the Jodzhora River), Shihantur on the same name are picturesque. river. The largest lake is Kelitsad (Kel, Kelistba; area 1279.6 m 2); lake Ertso (area 0.4 km 2) is the largest of the karst lakes in the Caucasus. Interesting dam lake. Koz (Kvezi), Sirkhdzuar (Tsitelikhat) crater lakes. On the river Malaya Liakhva created the Zonkari reservoir.

Soils, flora and fauna

In the foothills, secondary shrub steppes are common with wild rose, hawthorn, and kale tree in place of reduced forests on brown soils. In the extreme south there are areas with freegana. In the valleys, trees and shrubs grow on alluvial soils. Forests and shrubs occupy about 1/2 of the territory. Oak and oak-hornbeam forests with shrubs (medlar, dogwood, barberry) and fruit trees (wild apple, pear, cherry) predominate in the lower forest zone (from a height of 600–700 m); 1000-1100 m they are replaced by beech forests with hornbeam, maple, above 1500-1600 m mixed beech-spruce forests grow, giving way to spruce forests, in places with fir and pine on mountain brown soils. In the west, in the forests, there are Colchian elements (in the evergreen undergrowth - cherry laurel, holly, needle, less often Pontic rhododendron; epiphytes are numerous). In the gorges, berry yew has been preserved in some places. At the upper border of the forest, crooked forests of beech, Trautfetter maple, and Radde birch are common. Beech accounts for approx. 80% of the total forested area. Above 2200–2350 m - subalpine (with Caucasian rhododendron) and alpine meadows on mountain meadow soils.

Hamsters, voles, field mice, hedgehogs, hares, foxes, and jackals are common in the steppes. Brown bear, deer, roe deer, wild boar, lynx, wolf, fox, squirrel, stone marten, etc. live in mountain forests; Caucasian black grouse are found in the subalpine zone, tours and chamois live in the alpine zone, mountain turkeys-ulars are common. There are kekliks, partridges; birds of prey - golden eagle, bearded vulture, falcon, eagle, peregrine falcon. Red Book species of flora and fauna - yew berry, Caucasian rhododendron, steveniella satyrioid, burnt orchid; Caucasian viper (Kaznakova), Dinnik's viper, Caucasian frog, Persian leopard.

State and environmental protection

From the beginning 1990s forest areas have decreased as a result of mass cutting (including valuable species of trees), soil erosion has intensified, rivers have become shallow and springs have disappeared. As a result of long-term anthropogenic impact, foothill forests have been reduced, their lower border has been raised, and the areas of secondary shrubs have increased. As a result of illegal hunting, the number of red deer, roe deer, wild boar, and bears has sharply decreased; after the tightening of protective measures, the situation has improved. There is an acute problem of air pollution along the Transcaucasian highway, as well as garbage disposal.

Nature is protected in the South Ossetian Reserve, created in 2010 on the basis of the Liakhvi Reserve.

Population

The majority of the population of Yu. O. are Ossetians (89.9%; 2015, census), Georgians (7.4%), Russians (1.1%), and others also live

The population for 1989-2015 decreased by 1.8 times (98.5 thousand people in 1989, census; Georgians - 7.2 times, Russians - 3.5 times, Ossetians - 1.4 times) . arr. because of migrants. outflow as a result of the war. actions in the beginning 1990s and in 2008. Natural. us growth. 0.4 people per 1000 inhabitants, birth rate 10.1 per 1000 inhabitants, death rate 9.7 per 1000 inhabitants. (2015). Infant mortality 9.3 per 1000 live births (2013). Wed life expectancy 67 years (2008). In the age structure of the population, the proportion of people of working age (15-64 years) is 58.1%, people over 65 years old - 25.4%, children (under 15 years old) - 16.5% (2010). Women make up 52.0% of the population, men - 48.0% (2015). Wed us density. 13.7 people / km 2. The most densely populated is the more flat south of the country. Share of mountains us. 65.5%. There are 2 cities in the South Oblast - Tskhinval (30.4 thousand people) and Kvaisa (Kvaisi; 1.0 thousand people), as well as 3 villages in the mountains. type (Dzau, Znaur and Leningor). Number of employed 18.9 thousand people. (2013; 73.8% - in the service sector, 26.2% - in industry, agriculture and forestry).

Religion

On the territory of Yu. O. Ch. arr. Orthodoxy and tradition Osset. beliefs. Yu. O. is part of the canon. territory Georgian Orthodox Church(Nikos-Tskhinvali diocese), however, due to the military-political. conflict on the territory of Yu. O. pl. Orthodox parishes became part of the non-canonical. formations. Now part of the Orthodox parishes are also cared for by the clergy of Rus. Orthodox Church of Moscow patriarchy, part [e.g. mon. Largvis (Largvisi)] – in the jurisdiction of Gruz. Orthodox Church.

Historical outline

The oldest traces of human activity in the region (0.6-0.3 million years ago) belong to Ashel (Kudaro, Tsona caves; sediments before the Eneolithic). Mustier is represented by the Kudar and Tskhinvali cultures. Monuments of the Late Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic are not numerous. In the early Bronze Age, it spreads here Kura-Araxes culture, a burial associated with North Caucasian culture. Middle Bronze Age represented Trialeti culture. At the settlement of Natsargora (within the boundaries of modern Tskhinval) there are layers from the Eneolithic to the Middle Bronze Age.

In the late Bronze Age, the region was one of the zones of proto-Koban antiquities (including burials in Tli, cromlechs and a settlement near the modern village of Styrfaz), then one of the centers Koban culture(Kobano-Colchis cultural and historical community), associated with its South Koban variant (culture), where for the 7th–6th centuries. BC e. influence Scythian archaeological culture(including products in Scythian-Siberian animal style).

From the turn of the 4th-3rd centuries. BC e. the territory of modern Yu. O. was part of the zone of influence of Iberia. A number of traditions of the Koban culture are preserved, links are traced with the Achaemenid, Parthian, Hellenistic, Late Antique, Sasanian cultural and political. centers Sarmatian archaeological cultures. Among the indicators of the peculiarities of the culture of the region and the lands adjacent to it are rectangular openwork buckles in the main. with zoomorphic images (3rd century BC - 3rd century AD). From Ser. 3 - beginning. 4th century on the territory of modern South O. intensively settled Caucasian Alans.

The Kudets, probably corresponding to the Kudars, and the Dvals (see the Ossetian article) are mentioned in the "Armenian Geography" of the 7th century. With the spread of Christianity (through Kartli, from the 5th century), the appearance of monuments of Christian architecture is associated: among them are churches in the village of. Tigva (1152) and p. Ikorta (1172); monasteries (of the later ones, the Tirsky monastery in the village of Monasteri, 13–14 centuries, is the most famous). From the beginning 10th c. lands of modern Yu. O. were located on the borders of Alania and Gruz. kingdoms. In 1222, 1238-39 and in 1395 the Alanian statehood was destroyed by the Mongols and Timur, who also subdued the cargo. earth. Alans forced out into the high-mountain gorges of the Center. Caucasus, subsequently partially settled in the south. slope of the Main Caucasian Range, mingling with the local population. Another migration wave of Ossetians to the territory of modern. Yu. O. belongs to the 16th–18th centuries. From con. 14 - 1st floor. 15th century known Tskhinvali (Krtskhinvali).

In the mountainous regions, starting from the early Middle Ages, the process of forming a federation of local local societies was developed. Y-shaped valley of the river. The Bolshaya Liakhva and its tributaries, the territory of Yu. O. was divided into 5 historical. regions, or societies: north-western - Kudargom, north-eastern - Urs-Tualta ("White Tuals"); central - Dzaugom (Lower Dvaletia); southwestern - Kornis, southeastern - Chisangom. Each region was divided into several. smaller societies. The system of their collective defense was based on the use of towers that were in visual communication with each other (the main arr. buildings of the 16th–18th centuries have been preserved along with semi-underground and above-ground crypts and sanctuaries). In the highlands, the towers belonged to the department. surnames, in the foothills were the property of the communities.

In the foothill areas, the process of feudalization began, but repeated attempts by the feudal lords (Ksani and Aragvi eristavs, princes Machabeli), some of whom had Ossets. origin, subjugate the mountainous regions of modern. Yu. O. had no final success. An attempt to create Osset instead did not bring results either. principalities large adm. region within Kartli. G. Saakadze, appointed by the king of Kartli Luarsab II "ruler of Tskhinvali and Dvaletia", undertook a large-scale campaign against the Dvalians in 1624, but failed to finally subdue them. They tried to subjugate the lands of modern. Yu. O. and the kings of Imereti. In response from the beginning 17th century the “person” (“Ossetian”) is gaining strength - the period of Ossetian raids on cargo. earth.

After Kyuchuk-Kainarji peace 1774 the inclusion of oset began. lands in the Ros. empire. After joining in 1801 in Ros. the empire of Kartli-Kakheti kingdom the entire territory of modern. Yu. O. becomes part of it, local peasants began to be transferred to serfdom. feudal lords, which caused sharp protests from the highlanders. The answer was the military. expedition grew. administrations jointly with the Ksani eristavis, carried out with varying success in 1802–50. From 1852 south. Ossetians began to be considered state. peasants.

As part of Ros. empire, the region was part of the Georgian lips. (1801–40) Georgian-Imereti province(1840–46), in which Oset was created. env. (1840–42), in 1842 the Maloliakhvsky section was left in its composition, and the Ksani section entered the Gorsky district. In 1846, the lands of Yu. O. were divided between Tiflis province(as part of the Gori and Dusheti counties) and Kutaisi province(as part of the Rachinsky district). Historical processes that began in the 19th century led to the destruction of the Ossetian structure. mountain societies.

After Feb. revolution of 1917 created on the territory of Yu. O. Nats. council of representatives political parties and the 1st Congress of Delegates of the South. and Sev. Ossetia spoke in favor of providing the south. Ossetians "the right of free self-determination" and the unification of Ossetia into a single state. education (June 1917). On January 27 (February 9), 1918, an Osset was created in Tiflis. Bolshevik organization "Chermen". In March 1918 began arming. clashes, but the uprising was put down by the cargo. troops. In 1918–21 Yu. O. was declared an integral part of Gruz. democratic republics. In May 1919, cargo was introduced into Yu. O.. troops, and 12.6.1919 in the village. Java was created by South Ossetia. district committee of the RCP(b). Dec. 1919, after another cargo expedition. troops, part of the rebels Yu. O. moved to the North. Ossetia. 8/5/1920 in the area of ​​the Roksky (Ruksky) pass South Ossetian. The rebels proclaimed power, 6/6/1920 occupied with. Java, and on 7/6/1920 entered Tskhinvali. There, on June 8, 1920, the establishment of the Sov. authorities in Yu. O. and announced its accession to the RSFSR (for the second time, for the first time in the memorandum of the South Ossetian District Committee on May 28, 1920 in Vladikavkaz). 12/6/1920 Tskhinval is again occupied by cargo. troops, carried out a show. execution of 13 people, the destruction of the South Ossetians began. villages. So. part of Osset. population (from 20 to 50 thousand people) fled to the North. Ossetia. In March 1921, the territory of Yu. O. came under the control of the Red Army; power.

On October 31, 1921, the Central Committee of the Communist Party (b) of Georgia granted Yu. O. the status of autonomy. 20.4.1922 by decree of the CEC Gruz. The SSR in its composition was formed by South Ossetia. JSC with the center in Tskhinvali (now Tskhinvali). In 1940, the Kvaisinsky Mining Administration began its work. In Vel. Fatherland war, in preparation Battles for the Caucasus 1942–43, built to defend. a line in the zone of the Magsky, Dzomagsky, Roksky, Sbiysky and Urstualsky passes (100 km long) and the Kirov defensive and fortifying line (20 km) in Kudargom. In 1988, the Transcaucasian Highway (Transkam) was put into operation. On the whole, the rates of development of the economy and the social sphere of South Ossetia lagged behind other regions of Georgia.

During the years of perestroika, interethnic conflicts between Ossetians and Georgians escalated. 11/10/1989 12th emergency session of the Council of the people. deputies of South Ossetia. The AO decided to transform the region into an ASSR as part of Gruz. SSR (not recognized by the Armed Forces of the Georgian SSR). The answer is cargo. informal organizations announced a rally in Tskhinval on 11/23/1989 in support of the cargo. of the population of Yu. O .: a convoy of trucks approached Tskhinvali from Tbilisi from approx. 20-30 thousand people, but the police prevented her entry into the city, ext. troops and Osset. volunteers. Armed began. clashes, since mid-December. 1989 Yu. O. was blocked cargo. armed detachments, there were demands for the liquidation of the autonomy of Yu.O. deputies of South Ossetia. The AO unilaterally announced the transformation of the region into South Ossetia. Owls. Democratic (until 11/28/1990) Republic, applied to the USSR Armed Forces with a request to include it in the USSR and adopted the "Declaration on the Sovereignty of South Ossetia". On December 9, 1990, elections were held. deputies of South Ossetia. Owls. Republic. An important role in the development of modern statehood Yu. O. was played by T. G. Kulumbegov (chairman of the Supreme Court in December 1990 - January 1991, January 1992 - September 1993). In turn, the cargo party 11.12.1990 abolished South Ossetia. AO and introduced a state of emergency on its territory. On January 7, 1991, the President of the USSR annulled the decisions taken both in Tbilisi and Tskhinval, formally restoring the status quo. The escalation of the military began in Yu.O. actions, 6.1.1991 on its territory were introduced means. load force. armed formations. 4/5/1991 under pressure from the union center deputies of South Ossetia. AO of all levels decided to restore the status of AO (not recognized as a cargo party). However, already on September 1, 1991, at the session of the Council of the Nar. deputies of South Ossetia. AO this decision was canceled and the creation of the Republic of South was proclaimed. Ossetia (South Ossetia), at the same time, an appeal was made to the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR to consider the issue of its reunification with Russia. 12/21/1991 session of the RSO Supreme Council adopted the Declaration of Independence, the decision to establish an independent state was confirmed by the results of the referendum on 19/1/1992. The formation of the Republic of South Ossetia was accompanied by military. the conflict of 1991-1992 with the cargo. side, during which approx. 1000 Ossetians. On May 29, 1992, the RSO Armed Forces adopted the Declaration of Independence. According to the Sochi (Dagomys) agreement of the presidents of the Russian Federation and Georgia on June 24, 1992 on the principles of settling the cargo.-Ossetian. conflict, the Mixed (Russian-Georgian-Ossetian) peacekeeping forces and the Mixed Control Commission were created.

According to the results of the first presidential elections in the history of Yu. O., on November 10, 1996, L. A. Chibirov became the President of the Republic of South Ossetia (until 2001; in 1993–96, the chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of South Ossetia). In 2000, Ros.-Gruz. intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the restoration of the economy in the zone of cargo.-osset. conflict and the return of refugees. In 2001, the Constitution of the Republic of South Ossetia was adopted, in which the republic was proclaimed "a sovereign democratic legal state created as a result of the self-determination of the people of South Ossetia."

In 2001–11, E. D. Kokoity held the post of President of the Republic of South Ossetia. In 2004, with the coming to power in Georgia of M.N. Saakashvili, who took a tough stance on the issue of ensuring the country's territorial integrity, the situation in the region escalated again. After arming. clashes in July - August 2004 by agreement of the parties 5 Nov. the Agreement on the demilitarization of the conflict zone was signed, but it was not possible to stabilize the situation, there were cases of non-compliance with the ceasefire regime. 7–10.8.2008 cargo. side attempted military storming the capital of South Ossetia - the city of Tskhinval. In response, Armed The Russian forces carried out an operation to force Georgia to peace (ended on August 12). On August 26, 2008, President of the Russian Federation D. A. Medvedev signed a decree recognizing the independence of the Republic of South Ossetia. On September 17, 2008, the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between the Russian Federation and South Ossetia was signed; military base.

In 2011–12, an internal political crisis erupted in South Ossetia. crisis, after repeated presidential elections, the republic was headed by L. Kh. Tibilov (2012–17). On March 18, 2015, the Treaty of Alliance and Integration was signed between the Republic of South Ossetia and the Russian Federation.

According to the results of the presidential elections on April 9, 2017, A. I. Bibilov became the head of the republic (in 2014–17, chairman of the RSO parliament). As a result of the referendum held simultaneously with the elections, a decision was made to change the name of the Republic of South Ossetia to the Republic of South Ossetia - the State of Alania. A referendum was announced to be held in 2017 on the issue of joining the republic to the Russian Federation.

economy

Yu. O. - an agrarian country with a low level of economic. development. The volume of GDP is 93.0 million dollars (2013, at purchasing power parity); to our soul. $1,700 in the beginning 21st century Yu. O. is characterized by the unprofitability of most enterprises (military conflicts and the actual blockade by Georgia led to a significant reduction in production volumes and the destruction of infrastructure), weak technical. equipment prom-sti and with. x-va, depreciation of the main. funds, low avg. the standard of living of the population. St. 80% prom. enterprises - in the state. property. The profitable part of the budget is formed by Ch. arr. thanks to financial assistance from Russia (91% in 2015 - 6.7 billion rubles).

Industry

The sector employs 648 people. (2011). The leading industry is the food and flavor industry (70% of the cost of production). In the beginning. 2010s acted 15 prom. enterprises, the largest ones are a bakery, a cannery (processing of local agricultural products, including the production of apple juice), a meat processing plant (near Tskhinvali), a Bagiat liquor plant (bottling mineral water; capacity 400 thousand bottles per year; in the Dzauska district).

Agriculture. Main part of the cost of production falls on the state. enterprises (65% in 2013). The leading industry is crop production (about 65% of the cost of production). In structure of page - x. of land (thousand hectares, 2011) out of 84, 64 fall on pastures, 13 on arable land (about 3 are cultivated), and 7 on hayfields. arr. wheat (collection 0.8 thousand tons, 2011) and barley (0.2 thousand tons), technical and fodder crops, fruits. Livestock (thousand heads, 2012): cattle 18.9, sheep and goats 11.0, pigs 3.9.

Services sector

Leading sector and one of Ch. nat. employers - construction (2.2 thousand employed in 2011). There are 180 small construction sites. organizations; construction of housing (4.5 thousand m 2 in 2015) is carried out using dew. financial assistance. The financial system is regulated by the National. Bank of the Republic of South Ossetia (Tsentr. Bank, 1992), there are 4 commercial companies. bank (all in Tskhinval).

Transport

The length of roads is 1084 km (2010; 46% gravel and 30% unpaved). The basis of the transport system is the road: Tskhinvali - Dzau - Ruksky (Roksky) tunnel - Russia (Transcaucasian highway), Tskhinvali - Znaur, Tskhinval - Leningor. The railway Nikozi (Georgia) - Tskhinvali was destroyed during the war. actions of the beginning 1990s Gas pipeline Dzuarikau (Russia) - Tskhinvali (175 km, in the South O. about 100 km).

International trade

The foreign trade balance is chronically deficient. The volume of foreign trade turnover (million dollars, 2015) 54.1, including export 8.1, import 46.0. Export (% value): clothing (86.6), ferrous metals (5.1), boilers and equipment (4.2), vegetables and fruits (2.2), etc. Import (% value): miner. fuel (26.7; natural and liquefied gas, oil products), tobacco (11.7), chemical. threads (11.5), drinks (9.6), ferrous metals and products made from them (6.4), rubber, rubber and products made from them (4.7), machinery and equipment (3.6), vehicles (3.4); electricity (146 million kWh), etc. The only foreign trade partner is Russia (2014).

Education. Scientific and cultural institutions

Educational institutions are managed by the Ministry of Education and Science. Ch. the regulatory document in the field of education is the Law of 2008 (amended in 2016). The education system includes pre-school education, primary, secondary, secondary vocational and higher education. There are (2016) 20 preschool institutions (over 2.7 thousand pupils), 52 general educational institutions (about 4.8 thousand students), 8 institutions of additional education (about 2 thousand students). B. h. educational institutions, as well as South Ossetia. state un-t im. A. A. Tibilova (1932, current status since 1993), Multidisciplinary College (2010), Republican Nat. b-ka them. Anacharsis (leads history from the 1930s), Nat. museum (opened in 2015), South Osset. Research Institute. Z. Vaneeva are in Tskhinval. The Museum of the Princes of Ksani Eristavs is located in the village. Leningor.

Mass media

In Yu. O. 3 printed republican state publications are published. newspapers (all in Tskhinval): Yuzhnaya Ossetia (founded in 1983 under the name Sovetskaya Ossetia, independent publication since 1993; published 3 times a week in Russian and Ossetian languages, circulation 2.5– 3 thousand copies, 2017), “Khurzhrin” (“Dawn”, since 1924; changed its name several times, modern name since 1993, into Ossetian, 3 times a week, about 1.3 thousand copies ., 2017), "Republic" (since 1995; current name since 2005, weekly, 2.5 thousand copies, 2017). Functioning State. television and radio company "Ir" (in its structure - the radio of the same name, information agency OSinform), founded in 1994, broadcasts in Russian. and Osset. languages. As a state network acts informats. Res agency (founded in 1995).

Architecture and fine arts

The oldest monuments of art in the territory of Yu. O. are ornamented ceramics (from the Neolithic), bronze, gold, and silver items with relief and other decorations, and clay figurines of animals Kura-Araxes culture and other cultures of the Bronze Age. The rise of metal and ceramic plastics associated with koban culture, in the 7th–6th centuries. BC e. products appear in Scythian-Siberian animal style. Later, the influences of Iranian, ancient, Hellenistic are traced. lawsuit. The local tradition includes waist sets of the 3rd century BC. BC e. - 3 in. n. e. with zoomorphic images, etc.

In the Middle Ages under the influence of the Byzantines. missionaries and architects. traditions of Alanya and Georgia, cross-domed stone churches were built [Ksani Armazi (864), the Nativity of the Virgin in Tigua (1152), the Archangel Michael in Ikorta (1172, close to the temple in Samtavisi)], the basilica church of Mon. Hopa (1st half of the 13th century), small churches in the villages of Tsirkol (Tsirkoli), Mosabrun (Mosabruni), Kaben (Kabeni), Inaur (Inauri), Wallag-Achabet (Zemo-Achabeti), etc. Fragments of frescoes have been preserved : in Ksani Armazi (864), Ikorta (late 12th - early 13th centuries), Tirsky monastery. in with. Monaster (Monasteri; 14th century), mon. Madimayram (Khvtismshobeli) in the village. Tskhauat (Tskhavati; 14th century). Local builders were also active. traditions (ruins of a palace in the village of Dzagina, 17th century). Watchtowers and combat towers, dwellings-fortresses, and sanctuaries were erected in the mountainous regions. Terrace-like compositions are typical for the settlements of the high-mountain belt, for the settlements of the mountainous and foothill parts - the estate type of building. Nar. dwelling 18–19 centuries - a stone building with a flat roof and a faceted pyramidal top with a light-smoke hole.

To con. 19 - beg. 20th century K. L. Khetagurov and M. S. Tuganov acted as the founders of the easel osset. painting and graphics. In the 1920s–60s. reconstruction of Tskhinvali was carried out (dramatic theater, 1925–29, architect A. Ter-Stepanov, burned out in 2005; House of Soviets in the style of owls. neoclassicism, 1937, arch. M. Shavishvili), villages and settlements (Kvaisa and others). In 1955, an artist was created in Tskhinvali. teach them. M. S. Tuganova. In the 2nd floor. 20th century easel painting developed (X. I. Gassiev, G. V. Doguzov, V. G. Kozaev, S. V. Minasov, B. I. Sanakoev, M. G. Shavlokhov, etc.), portrait and monumental sculpture (In I. Kokoev and others), monumental and decorative (M. I. Kokoev and others) and theatrical and decorative. (T. A. Gagloev, A. G. Zaseev and others) painting, easel and book graphics (A. D. Vaneev, I. V. Dzheyranashvili, A. M. Sanzherovskaya and others), arts and crafts in (Kh. L. Zaseev, G. P. Mamitov and others). Among the artists 20 - early. 21st centuries: T. Tskhovrebov, M. Kelekhsaev, U. Kozaev, V. Kadzhaev. Tskhinval and other settlements are being reconstructed after the 2008 conflict.

Nar. the claim of Yu. O. is presented by the artist. embroidery with gold and silver threads and silk, metallic. vessels, ornaments and weapons with niello, engraving, incision, carved wood. utensils.

Music

The basis of music culture - the traditions of the Ossetians and other peoples. First prof. composer and conductor, founder of the school of composition Yu. O. - B. A. Galaev (1889–1974), author of music for the performances of South Osset. dramatic theater in Tskhinval, in 1938-51 the conductor of this theater. In 1931 he founded the Mus. school, in 1936 - South Osset. song and dance ensemble (since 1938 state), now the State. Song and Dance Ensemble of the Republic of South. Ossetia "Simd" them. B. A. Galaeva (Tskhinval). Among the soloists of this ensemble in the 1950s-1960s. - a well-known Osset performer. nar. songs G. N. Pliev. Worked in Yu. O.: Composer and folklorist F. Sh. Alborov (1935-2005) - author of the State. hymn Yu. O. (text by T. Kokaity; approved in 1995), founder of the Tskhinvali Music. student (1968; now named after F. Sh. Alborov); Z. S. Khabalova (1937–2016) - author of 19 symphonies and others. musicians originally from Yu. O. worked (are working) outside the republic, among them are the composer and pianist Zh. ). In Tskhinval, there is a city. Choir and orchestra Isald Instruments (1996).

Theatre

The first dramatic mugs appeared in the beginning. 20th century In 1931, the State Administration began to work in Tskhinvali. dramatic theater (since 1939 named after K. L. Khetagurov; in 2005 the building burned down; opened in a new building in 2017). Among theatrical figures in different years: V. Khetagurov, S. Bibilov, Kh. Vaneev, D. Gabaraev, V. Gagloeva, L. Golovanova, I. Dzhigkaev, A. Dzhioev, R. Dzagoev, T. Dzudtsov, S. Kotaev , Zh. Kharebov, V. Khasiyev, N. Chabieva, N. Chokheli, N. Chochieva.

Details Category: Partially recognized and unrecognized states of Asia Published on 04/14/2014 18:00 Views: 4241

Until 1990, South Ossetia was an autonomous region within the Georgian SSR.

On December 21, 1991, it declared its independence from Georgia. Currently, the state is recognized by 5 UN member states: Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru, Tuvalu. All other UN member states recognize the territory of South Ossetia as part of Georgia.

The republic is located in the Transcaucasus. In the north it borders on the subject of the Russian Federation North Ossetia-Alania, in the west, south and east - on Georgia. Has no access to the sea.

State symbols

Flag- is a rectangular panel with an aspect ratio of 1:2 with three equal stripes: white on top, red in the middle and yellow on the bottom. Red symbolizes courage, yellow - wealth and prosperity, white - moral purity. The flag of South Ossetia is identical to the flag of the Russian republic of North Ossetia-Alania. The flag was approved on November 26, 1990.

Coat of arms- is a round shield of red color. The shield depicts a yellow leopard against the backdrop of the silvery mountains of the Caucasus. The name of the country is written around the shield in two languages: in Russian (“Republic of South Ossetia”) below and in Ossetian (“Republicæ Khussar Iryston”) above. The colors of the coat of arms (white, red and yellow) correspond to the colors of the flag of South Ossetia. The coat of arms was approved on May 19, 1999. It is almost identical to the coat of arms of North Ossetia. The Caucasian leopard against the backdrop of mountains is the historical emblem of Ossetia, which in the Middle Ages was the emblem of the Ossetian state. The red field of the shield represents law, strength and courage, the golden color - supremacy, greatness and respect. The mountains on the shield symbolize the World Mountain with eight peaks - the oldest model of the world among the ancestors of the Ossetians and other Indo-European peoples. One vertex on the upper level is the divine absolute, supreme power, three vertices on the middle level are the world of people, three social functions of the Indo-Europeans, four vertices on the lower level are the cardinal points, the geographical limits of the country. Silver color means purity, wisdom, joy.

Modern state structure

Form of government- presidential republic.
head of state- the president.
Head of the government- Prime Minister.

Church of the Holy Mother of God in Tskhinvali
Capital- Tskhinvali.
Largest cities- Tskhinval, Kvaisa.
official languages- Ossetian, Russian, Georgian (in places densely populated by Georgians).
Territory– 3,900 km².

Population– about 72,000 people. The population of South Ossetia consists of Ossetians (64.3%), Georgians (25%) and some other ethnic groups (mainly Russians, Armenians, Jews).
Currency- Russian ruble.
Administrative division- 4 districts and the city of Tskhinvali. Only two settlements have the status of a city: Tskhinval and Kvaisa. Dzau, Znaur and Leningor are settlements. All other settlements have the status of villages.
Religion Orthodoxy is the main religion.
Sport football is the most popular sport.
Economy- according to the decision of the Georgian Parliament, it organized the economic blockade of South Ossetia. The main products produced in South Ossetia are fruits, which, after the August 2008 war, are supplied exclusively to the Russian Federation.
The railway communication also stopped (the railway connected Tskhinval with Gori and the Transcaucasian Mainline). There are also no airports. Aviation of the republic is represented only by helicopters.

Parade of military equipment of South Ossetia on Victory Day
Military establishment- the general staff, two rifle battalions, a motorized rifle battalion, a reconnaissance battalion, an MTO battalion, a mountain special forces company, a sniper company, a communications company, an engineering company, a security company, a guard of honor company.

Nature

South Ossetia is located on the southern slope of the Central Caucasus and in the foothills of the Inner Kartli plain. Almost 90% of the republic's territory is located at altitudes of more than 1000 m above sea level. The highest point in South Ossetia is Mount Khalatsa (3938 m).
Most of the republic's rivers belong to the Kura basin (flows into the Caspian Sea): Bolshaya Liakhva with a tributary Malaya Liakhva, Ksan, Mejuda, Lekhura. The Jodzhora and Kvirila rivers belong to the Rioni basin (flows into the Black Sea).

River Kvirila
The largest lake in the republic Kelistba, located at an altitude of 2921 m. The lake is slowly being destroyed due to erosion of the soil by the river Ksani flowing from it. The lake is covered with ice for 7-8 months of the year.

The largest man-made reservoir is on the Malaya Liakhva River, it is used for irrigation.
In South Ossetia, the following are distinguished types of climates: 1. Dry, steppe climate with moderately cold winters and hot summers (on the Inner Kartli plain in the south of the republic). 2. Moderately humid with moderately cold winters and long summers (at an altitude of 2000-2200 m). 3. Humid climate with cold and long winters and cool summers (at an altitude of 2200-3000 m). 4. Alpine humid climate of eternal snows and glaciers (on the peaks of the Main Caucasian Range, at an altitude above 3000-3600 m. Snow falls on the passes of South Ossetia almost at any time of the year.

Visible life appears in South Ossetia below the border of eternal snows. At an altitude of 3500 m, a belt of mountain-stony tundra stretches in a narrow strip along the slopes of mountain ranges with a predominance of mosses and lichens. Below, up to a height of about 2500 m, forb-cereal alpine meadows are common, behind which tall-grass subalpine meadows with shrubs and shrubs of the heather family descend like a motley carpet: rhododendron, lingonberry, blueberry, crowberry.

Alpine meadows
Fauna of alpine meadows: tours, chamois, snow finches, larks, choughs, Caucasian snowcock, snow voles. The subalpine zone is inhabited by the hare, the Promethean and the common vole, the Caucasian mouse, moles, shrews, kekliks, mountain skates, gray warbler, wall climbers, and there are also birds of prey: eagle, golden eagle, peregrine falcon, falcon, bearded vulture.

hare
In the forests of South Ossetia, vegetation of the temperate and subtropical zones prevails: oak, beech, chestnut, linden, ash, alder, and from conifers - spruce, fir, pine. Below grow medlar, dogwood, wild apple, pear, cherry, cherry plum, blackthorn, barberry, sea buckthorn, viburnum, walnut, birch, mountain ash, maple, willow, juniper. Hazel, red currant, cherry laurel, boxwood, blackberry, raspberry, wild rose grow in the undergrowth. In the gorges, in some places, a pre-glacial relic has been preserved - yew berry.

Sea ​​buckthorn
The mountain forests of the republic are inhabited by brown bear, red deer, roe deer, wild boar, wolf, fox, badger, raccoon dog, stone marten, forest dormouse, weasel, squirrel, hares, forest mice, bats, hedgehogs, Caucasian viper, European forest vipers are numerous. birds.

In the extreme south of the republic, rose hips, hawthorn, derzhiderevo, and buckthorn grow. From animals live hamsters, voles, field mice, hedgehogs, hares, foxes, jackals, boas, steppe eagle.

The only specially protected natural area is the Liakhvi Reserve.

Liakhvi Reserve

It was formed in 1977 to preserve high-mountain forests and was then in the Gori municipality of Georgia (now the Tskhinvali region of South Ossetia). The reserve is located at an altitude of 1200-2300 m above sea level and covers an area of ​​6084 hectares. It covers a number of gorges, including the Gnukh Gorge.
The reserve is inhabited by Caucasian deer, roe deer, brown bear, lynx, marten, Caucasian black grouse, Caucasian snowcock, mountain partridge, etc.

Brown bear

culture

Kosta Khetagurov

The culture of South Ossetia has its own history and figures. Perhaps the most famous of these is Kosta Khetagurov(1859-1906), an outstanding Ossetian poet, educator, painter and sculptor. Founder of Ossetian literature. He is also considered the founder of the literary Ossetian language.

Kosta Khetagurov "Zikara Pass"
In the city of Tskhinval, the South Ossetian State Theater bears the name of K. Khetagurov.
Famous writers: M.B. Tskhovrebova, Z.Z. Kabisov, T.Kh. Tadtaev.

The most famous Ossetian dance - simd. As in other Ossetian folk dances, young men temperamentally and easily perform technically complex movements. They behave with dignity, emphatically polite in relation to the girl.
Simd is interesting in its drawing and compositional construction. It starts at a moderate pace, but gradually the pace of the dance accelerates. It is performed smoothly, on high half-toes, the body is pulled up all the time. The number of performers must be even.
State Honored Academic Song and Dance Ensemble "Simd" named after B. Galaeva was founded in 1937. One of the famous performers of the ensemble was the singer Valery Sagkaev, who tragically died in 1992 under an avalanche on the Transcaucasian highway.

Valery Sagkaev

Sights of South Ossetia

Tskhinvali

Monument to the victims of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict
As a result of the military conflict in August 2008, the city was destroyed. Russian Ambassador to Georgia Vyacheslav Kovalenko: “The city of Tskhinvali no longer exists. It just doesn't exist. It was destroyed by the Georgian military.”
There were architectural monuments in the city: the Kavta Church of St. George (VIII-IX centuries), Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (XIX century), St. Nicholas (XIX century), Kviratskhovelskaya, Zguderskaya church of St. George. During the war in South Ossetia in August 2008, some of them were completely destroyed, others were seriously damaged.

During the restoration work of the Church of the Holy Mother of God (1718)
One of the most picturesque parts of Old Tskhinvali is the Jewish Quarter. It has been known since the 13th century. It was seriously damaged by rocket and artillery strikes in 1991-1992, when Georgian troops captured the dominant heights above the eastern part of the city and shot it with direct fire for several months. In the summer of 1992, the troops of the State Council of Georgia broke through the defenses of the city and occupied the part of the city where the Jewish quarter was located. At the same time, old houses were burned and destroyed. The quarter was also seriously damaged during the military conflict in August 2008.

Kusdzhita village
...And very beautiful nature in South Ossetia

Story

ancient history

The territory of South Ossetia has been inhabited by people since ancient times. The abundance of Paleolithic monuments on the territory of South Ossetia suggests that the climate of the Caucasus in the Stone Age was dry and warm. In the Acheulean caves of Kudaro-1, Kudaro-2, remains of macaques and bones of marine fish were found.
The ancient Greek historian Diodorus Siculus (90-21 BC) pointed out that “the wasps (Ossetians), who previously lived east of Armenia and the Persian Gulf, descend from the Medes-Iranians and settled on the territory of Transcaucasia proper, and in particular South Ossetia, V centuries before the birth of Christ. After the Mongol and Timur invasions, the remnants of the Alan population were able to take refuge in the mountains, where the process of ethnogenesis of the modern Ossetian people took place.

New history of South Ossetia

Georgian-South Ossetian conflict (1918-1920)

In 1918, Georgia regained its lost state independence and, as part of the newly formed Democratic Republic of Georgia, the Tskhinvali region, as in 1867-1917, was divided between two administrative units of the republic - Gori and Dusheti counties. In May 1920, an uprising began: the Bolsheviks, having proclaimed Soviet power, put forward a demand for the region to join Russia. As in the previous uprising in 1918, this time the majority of the local Ossetian population supported the uprising. The authorities of the Georgian Democratic Republic sent troops to Tskhinvali to suppress it. Government troops won in a short time. Ossetian citizens who took part in the uprising (20,000 people) left Georgia and moved to Russia. In 1918-1920. in South Ossetia, there were three major anti-government uprisings under the slogan of establishing Soviet power and joining South Ossetia to the RSFSR. The most powerful was the uprising of 1920.
The South Ossetian rebels and the South Ossetian brigade sent to help them from Soviet Russia crossed the pass on June 6 and defeated the Georgian troops near Dzhava. The next day, after stubborn offensive battles, the Georgian troops near Tskhinval were defeated, and the city was taken. On June 8, Soviet power was proclaimed in South Ossetia.
In June-July 1920, the Georgian government carried out a punitive operation in South Ossetia, about 70% of the livestock was stolen or killed, about 5 thousand Ossetians were killed or died of starvation and epidemics. The Soviet Georgian government created in April 1922 the South Ossetian Autonomous Region. The administrative-state languages ​​were Russian and Georgian.

Declaration of Independence of the Republic of South Ossetia

On November 10, 1989, the Autonomous Republic of South Ossetia was formed. The Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR recognized this decision as unconstitutional.
On September 20, 1990, the Council of People's Deputies of the South Ossetian Autonomous Region proclaimed the South Ossetian Soviet Democratic Republic within the USSR, and on November 28, 1990, the South Ossetian Soviet Democratic Republic was renamed the South Ossetian Soviet Republic.
On December 9, 1990, elections were held to the Supreme Soviet of the South Ossetian Soviet Republic. Residents of Georgian nationality boycotted them.

South Ossetian war (1991-1992)

On the night of January 5-6, 1991, units of the police and the Georgian National Guard were brought into Tskhinvali. But the Ossetian self-defense units and the local militia began to resist, and after 3 weeks they were forced to leave the city.
On February 1, 1991, Georgia cut off the power supply to South Ossetia. Dozens of old people froze to death in the nursing home, babies died in the maternity hospital.
Throughout 1991, periodic armed clashes continued. The flow of refugees from the conflict zone to North Ossetia and Russian territory began.
Georgian police forces carried out shelling of the city of Tskhinval, which led to numerous destructions and casualties.

After the shelling

Ossetian detachments in the besieged Tskhinval experienced a shortage of weapons and ammunition and acted as small subversive groups. The humanitarian situation in the former autonomous region and the city was catastrophic.
On September 1, 1991, the Session of the Council of People's Deputies of South Ossetia proclaimed the Republic of South Ossetia as part of the RSFSR. This decision was annulled by the Georgian parliament.
At the end of 1991 - beginning of 1992. in Georgia itself, a civil war began, during which he was released from a Tbilisi prison and sent by helicopter to Tskhinvali by Jaba Ioseliani, he again headed the Supreme Council of South Ossetia. In the 1992 referendum, more than 98% of the population of South Ossetia answered that they would like to join Russia and become independent. The result of the referendum was the beginning of artillery shelling of Tskhinval by Georgian artillery and armored vehicles. On May 20, 1992, Georgian militants shot at the village of Zar a column of refugees heading for North Ossetia, 36 people were killed.

Horrors of war

On May 29, 1992, the Supreme Council of the Republic of South Ossetia adopted the Act on State Independence of the Republic of South Ossetia.
On July 14, 1992, peacekeeping forces consisting of three battalions (Russian, Georgian and Ossetian) were introduced into the conflict zone.

Ludwig Chibirov
November 10, 1996 the first President of South Ossetia was elected Ludwig Chibirov, doctor of historical sciences, professor. In 2001 he was replaced Eduard Kokoity.

Eduard Kokoity

At the end of May 2004, declaring its intention to fight smuggling, Georgia introduced detachments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and army special forces into the territory controlled by South Ossetia. On August 19, 2004, Tskhinval was fired from mortars. On the same day, clashes took place near the village of Tliakan. A day later, Georgian troops were withdrawn from the conflict zone.
In March 2006, Eduard Kokoity filed an application with the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation for the unrecognized republic to join the Russian Federation.

Armed conflict 2008

On the night of August 7-8, 2008, Georgia started a new conflict. As a result of hostilities, 48 ​​Russian servicemen, including 10 Russian peacekeepers, and 162 civilians were killed. The Russian Federation sent its troops into South Ossetia, a few days later Georgian troops were driven back from South Ossetia, during the conflict, the Georgian armed forces left the upper part of the Kodori Gorge they previously controlled in Abkhazia. On August 26, 2008, Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and on September 9, diplomatic relations were established between the states.
On the evening of August 7, the Georgian and South Ossetian sides of the conflict accused each other of violating the terms of the ceasefire. Georgian artillery, including rocket artillery, began intensive shelling of Tskhinval and adjacent areas.

The horrors of war: on the streets of Tskhinvali

On the morning of August 8, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili accused Russia of bombing Georgian territory, calling it "classic international aggression." General mobilization was announced in Georgia.
At about 3 pm on August 8, Russian armored vehicles entered South Ossetia.

After the 2008 conflict

Despite the fact that the Supreme Council of the Republic of South Ossetia (South Ossetia) declared the independence of the republic as an independent state, in August 2008 the independence of South Ossetia was recognized only by other unrecognized states on the post-Soviet territory (Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh and Transnistria).
According to the Constitution of Georgia, it continues to be part of it (in the form of parts of four different regions), but de facto it has been independent from Georgia for the last 15 years.
Two weeks after the end of the active phase of hostilities in South Ossetia, the Russian Federation officially recognized the independence of South Ossetia, which caused a strong reaction from the world community.
On April 19, 2012, as a result of the elections, he officially took office as President of the Republic of South Ossetia Leonid Tibilov.

Transcaucasia (the independence of the country is recognized by Russia, Abkhazia, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Naura). The capital of South Ossetia is Tskhinvali. The territory of the state is about 3900 km 2.

Borders of South Ossetia

The border between South Ossetia and Russia runs along the Caucasian watershed ridge. The length of the border line is 74 km. Transport connection with Russia is possible only along two highways:

1. Through the Mamison pass along the military-Ossetian road. The route passes through the territory of Georgia, the border is closed by the border guards of the two powers.
2. On the Transcaucasian highway through the Transcaucasian direction, a checkpoint is constantly working. About 1,000 vehicles pass through the checkpoint daily. Pedestrians are not allowed to cross the border. A visa-free regime has been in effect between South Ossetia and Russia since 2010.

The South Ossetian-Georgian border is the border between Georgia and South Ossetia. According to the Constitution of Georgia, there is no border and South Ossetia itself as a separate administrative unit. The government of the republic considers the South Ossetian Autonomous Okrug an occupied territory that belongs to the Georgian people.

Agreement with the Russian Federation on common border protection

The agreement between the countries of South Ossetia - Russia provides for assistance from the Russian Federation in the training of personnel and the complete compilation of the national border service of Ossetia. The border guards of South Ossetia are supported by a Russian military base, which consists of almost two thousand people. Ossetia, on the other hand, provided its own territory for Russian military installations for a period of 99 years.

Cities and capital of Ossetia

The capital of South Ossetia is Tskhinvali, where about 30.5 thousand people (approximately 57% of the total population) live as of 2015. In total, there are 53.5 thousand citizens in the country. The demographic situation leaves much to be desired: the population is declining. In 1989, for example, 98 thousand people lived in South Ossetia, of which 42.3 thousand citizens lived in the capital.

The largest cities in terms of population in South Ossetia for 2015 are represented by the following administrative units:

• the settlement of Kvaisa (Dzausky district) - 6.5 thousand people;
• Znaursky district - 4.5 thousand people;
• Leningor district - 4.2 thousand people.

Almost 80% of the Georgian population of the area and 70% of the Ossetians became refugees after the August 2008 events. By the end of 2009, only about 1,200 people out of almost 50,000 who left had not returned to their homeland.

Ethnic composition of the state

The population of the country consists of Ossetians, Georgians and some other ethnic groups: Jews, Armenians, Russians live in South Ossetia. In percentage terms, the ethnic composition of the state is represented by the following groups:

• Ossetians make up 69.07% of the total population;
• Georgians - 26.94% of all residents;
• Jews, there are 2.04%;
• Georgian Jews make up 1.99%
• Armenians - 1.57% of all residents;
• 0.18% of Russians live in the country.

Linguistic affiliation of the population

Russian and Ossetian are the state languages ​​in South Ossetia. Is South Ossetia a part of Russia if the state language of the Russian Federation is on the same level as Ossetian in the country? Despite the fact that on November 13, 2011, a referendum was held on granting state status to the Russian language and 84% of citizens spoke positively, the official unification of Russian and Ossetian territories did not occur.

All central television and radio channels broadcast in Russian, newspapers and magazines are printed in the state language of the Russian Federation. Russian is taught in all educational institutions of the country. On April 5, 2012, a few months after the referendum, the State Parliament adopted the law "On State Languages". Already on June 6, 2012, the regulatory legal act was approved, and Russian became the second state.

Relations of South Ossetia with Russia

The term "Russian-South Ossetian relations" refers to economic relations between South Ossetia and Russia. Today, the Russian Federation is the main partner of Ossetia in the political, economic and military spheres. The functioning of the state economy largely relies on assistance from Russia.

In March 2015, an agreement on deeper integration was developed and signed between the countries. The document provided for the creation of a military alliance. At that time, Georgia still did not recognize the independence of South Ossetia and considered the country's territories to be occupied by Russian troops.

Cooperation in politics, economy, military sphere

In 2015, an agreement was signed, according to which the Russian Federation and South Ossetia are introducing a single defense and customs space. Crossing the borders from the moment the agreement enters into force is carried out according to a facilitated procedure. The procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship for residents of South Ossetia has also been simplified. The Russian Federation is connected to health insurance and the formation of pensions for citizens of Ossetia. In addition, the treaty stipulates that military aggression against one state will be considered as military aggression against two countries.

After the signing of the agreement and the active participation of the Russian Federation in the economy and politics of South Ossetia, the question arose on the international political arena whether South Ossetia is part of Russia. Leonid Tibilov (president of the South Ossetia) answered this with a negative and explained that as of 2015 there was no talk of uniting the countries. The agreement between the Russian Federation and South Ossetia was not recognized by the Georgian authorities and the United States, since they considered such an agreement a violation of the territorial integrity of Georgia.

Dependent independent South Ossetia

Is South Ossetia part of Russia? This question causes bewilderment and in the nearest neighbors of South Ossetia. Was the independence of South Ossetia proclaimed? To understand the situation, it is necessary to consider the origins of the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict.

Back in the early 1990s, relations between Georgia and South Ossetia entered a military stage. Against this background, full-scale military operations unfolded in August 2008. Thanks to the intervention of Russia, the Georgian army left the territory of South Ossetia, after which the government of the Russian Federation recognized the independence of the republic. This was an unexpected decision, since South Ossetia was counting on the annexation of the territory to Russian lands.

In November 2011, after the Russian Federation recognized the independence of South Ossetia, presidential elections were held in the republic. VV Brovtsev became the President of the Republic. In 2014, parliamentary elections were held in the country, in which the United Ossetia party won the majority of votes. Representatives of a political force wanted South Ossetia to become part of Russia. But, having gained power, politicians could not fulfill the "age-old dream" of the inhabitants of Ossetia.

In June 2016, a new text of the integration agreement between South Ossetia and the Russian Federation was prepared. The first document dealt with the complete absorption of the South Ossetian power structures by Russian ones in such a way as to transfer the right to the Russian Federation on decisions relating to the state security of Ossetia, but at the same time not to deprive the Ossetians of independence. As a result, the option of joining the Russian Federation was ruled out and the degree of integration of South Ossetia into the Russian space significantly decreased.

Modern Russia and the likelihood of unification with South Ossetia

The Russian Federation faced international sanctions in response to the annexation of Crimea, so now it is simply not profitable to include the Ossetian people in the state as well - this will cause additional criticism from the world community, which may subsequently lead to even greater sanctions. Therefore, to the question “Is South Ossetia part of Russia?” Russian authorities openly declare their disapproval of connection attempts. This is a frank admission by Russia that they have no relationship with the progressive but poorly organized political force of South Ossetia. Modern Russia acts more as a supporter of the current president of Ossetia.

What other states seek to enter

The inhabitants of South Ossetia are not the only people who seek to join the Russian Federation. The new composition of Russia was formed on March 18, 2014, when the Crimean peninsula was annexed to the territory of the state.

Transnistria, for example, is an unrecognized state and seeks to unite the territories with the Russian Federation. According to the vote, which was held in 2006, 97% of citizens were in favor of reunification. In 2013, Russian federal legislation was adopted on the territory of the country. In March 2014, the Supreme Council of the PMR appealed to the State Duma with a request to accept the unrecognized republic as part of the Russian Federation, since 40% of residents with Russian citizenship live on its territory.

In 2014, the heads of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk Republics addressed the authorities of the Russian Federation with a request to unite. The DPR and LPR were destroyed during a long war, and large investments are needed to restore cities. Therefore, do not rush to include them in your composition.

Tskhinvali– capital Republic of South Ossetia, one of the oldest cities in the Caucasus, founded by King Asfagur in 262. Tskhinvali - the heart South Ossetia, its capital. He is in focus, collecting all the best and worthy of the Ossetian land. Tskhinvali is located on the fast, picturesque Liakhva, the etymology of which hydronym goes back to the ancient Persian language and means "fast river". Tskhinvali is an administrative and cultural center, organizes the economic life of the republic and has an ancient history. Industrial enterprises are located here, the main institutions of science, literature and art are concentrated.

The importance of Tskhinvali increased immeasurably after the proclamation of the republic. The leading role in the formation of the defense of the Republic from Georgian aggression contributed to the fact that Tskhinval became a symbol of the struggle for independence and statehood.

Tskhinvali today it is the center of everything that builds and strengthens our Republic.

The historically emerging city has numerous evidence of the past in archeological monuments, in the types and appearance of religious buildings.

I. Gildenshtedt calls Tskhinval Krtskhinvali, Chreba, noting that this is a noble place. Tskhinvali is located on a beautiful foothill area in the Bolshaya Liakhva gorge. From the northeast and from the northwest small picturesque mountains closely adjoin to it.

At the dawn of its history, Tskhinvali was one of the main migration crossroads, through which both military ratis and trade caravans came. A remarkable consequence of this was the diversity of the national composition of the population. There was a colorful Jewish quarter in Tskhinval, destroyed during the Georgian aggression, Armenian streets, etc. Our ancestors from ancient times settled on both slopes of the main Caucasian ridge. They mostly lived in the mountains. The mountains were part of their living space. The way of life and their activities over the centuries has been special from actively hiking to sedentary mountain. At the same time, the flat territories were necessarily strictly controlled by them and were also part of their world. Far in their way of life in those days from leading a calm plain life, they allowed various migration flows to settle here, organizing trade here, a primitive settled infrastructure, and building religious buildings. So, for example, in the 14th century, part of the migration flows from Asia and Europe, Armenians, Jews, stopped precisely in the territory South Ossetia, which became their homeland, some earlier. Alans-Ossetians peacefully reacted to new settlers, to new contacts, especially since their trade relations and skills played an important role in the creation of a common territorial-civil unit with a special multi-ethnic flavor. The location of Tskhinvali contributed to this, here from time immemorial merchants from all over the South Caucasus exchanged goods. Time changes a lot. Gradually, over time, Ossetians gradually begin to move to the plain, to the city, which gradually becomes a kind of center for communication, establishing contacts, informing, etc. From the middle of the 19th century, Tskhinvali began to develop more actively, acquiring an infrastructural appearance, although in general it remains far from the main means of communication and economic ties by this time.

To this must be added the political aspect associated with Georgian influence and attitude. Georgia, through the hands of the Russian administration, was Georgianizing the city, seizing lands, preventing the Ossetians from establishing a new way of life, and so on. Nevertheless, Tskhinvali more and more acquired a national image, became a synthesizer and distributor of Ossetian tradition, this culture was felt in everything, penetrated everywhere, spread and enriched.

On December 5, 1917, the residents of Tskhinvali sent a petition to the Commissar of Internal Affairs. They asked for city self-government. Most of the population of Tskhinval was engaged in trade and handicrafts, the other part was engaged in viticulture and gardening.

Commercial and industrial enterprises functioned here: a warehouse for agricultural tools, a warehouse for Singer sewing machines, 9 handicraft sawmills, 5 brick factories, etc.

In addition, there was a post and telegraph office and educational institutions in Tskhinval. And he continued, slowly, but, nevertheless, to develop.

20-30 years - new industrial, social, cultural facilities appear here. It should be noted that Tskhinvali became the unifying center of the Ossetians, who at the beginning of the 20th century fought in the ranks of various socio-political movements and sought decisions about the fate South Ossetia.

April 20, 1922 was formed South Ossetian Autonomous Region with a center in Tskhinvali. In 1934, Tskhinval was renamed into the city of Stalinir, the historical name was returned to it in 1961. With many positive trends in terms of the development of Tskhinval, the ideological aspect seriously influenced the essence and depth of the ongoing processes of this period, far from being in a positive direction. The development of Tskhinvali continued. Plants, factories, schools were built, and the first university appeared - YuOGPI. Tskhinvali is the most important road transport hub, the starting point for movement along the Transcaucasian Highway (Tskhinvali-Alagir). Despite the fact that Soviet Georgia continued the policy of covert and sometimes obvious denationalization, Tskhinval remained the center of Ossetian spirituality and culture.

A new stage in history - the 90s, tragic and heroic. In 1989, Georgian aggression against South Ossetia began and continues to this day. The center of resistance was Tskhinvali. At the same time, it was during these years that the political role of Tskhinval increased. In accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of South Ossetia - art. 3 “The capital of the Republic of South Ossetia is the city of Tskhinvali, whose status is determined by constitutional law.”

The city has its own Charter, which defines the structures and names of governing bodies, legal norms for activities, powers, economic and financial foundations, etc.

Tskhinval has its own coat of arms, which is the official symbol of the capital. The coat of arms is based on the colors of the State Flag of the Republic of South Ossetia. In the upper part of the coat of arms, three towers are depicted against the background of the rising sun. The name of the city is composed of the rays of the sun. Below is an image of one of the modern ancient Aryan signs, personifying the harmony of life in the form of a wheel - a symbol of perpetual motion with the image of a twelve-string harp.

The Huatsamong bowl represents hospitality, abundance, generosity. Below is the key to the city.

Georgian aggression in 1989-1992, 2004, 2007 caused significant damage to the city. We are daily reminded of the war by the ruins of the Jewish quarter, shot-through houses, gravestones in the infamous cemetery in the courtyard of school No. 5.

By the 10th anniversary of the Republic of South Ossetia was staged monument to the fallen defenders Fatherland next to Church of the Holy Mother of God.

Since 2005, Tskhinvali has been a member of the Assembly of Capitals and Large Cities. The MAG includes 64 republics, regional centers representing all federal districts of the Russian Federation and 8 CIS countries.

Tskhinvali was admitted to the Assembly at the tenth session of the WHA in Minsk.

Restoration work continues in Tskhinval today. The infrastructure of the city is being strengthened from year to year. New construction is underway. The city lives and is updated in the conditions of constant provocations.

Tskhinvali this year became the object of a 4-month water blockade, the economic blockade continues.

And, nevertheless, the connections of the South Ossetian capital with other cities are getting stronger and growing.

Tskhinvali became a member of the world organization "United Cities".

The title of Honorary Citizen of the city was established. Honorary citizens of Tskhinval are Vostrikov Alexey Nikitich, Gioev Mikhail Ilyich, Merkuriev Alexey Alekseevich and others.

The history of Tskhinvali is complex and interesting. Tskhinvali- this is an interweaving of many political interests, ideologies over the centuries.

Whoever does not try to take away history from Tskhinvali: from treacherous neighbors to migratory groups who once found shelter here. And those whose ancestors warmed with their eyes, enlivened with their steps, inspired their land with the words of prayer, continue to live and proudly, like native mountains, steadfastly and impatiently remind that the land of Ossetia for peace, goodness and joy.

South Ossetia formally considered part of Georgia, but in fact it is a separate, partially recognized state. Its modern borders were created in the 20s of the XX century, then in the 1990s these borders were abolished by the Georgian leadership and the Java region was formally created on the site of the Ossetian Autonomous Region, Akhalgori region and parts of Gori and Karelian regions. The Ossetian leadership did not recognize this division and divided the country into Java, Tskhinvali, Znauri and Leningor regions. For convenience, I will use the Ossetian system. In Georgia, this region is sometimes called "Samachablo". In Georgian historical documents, the names “Dvaletia” or “This-South Ossetia” (Piraketi Oseti) are found.

On the territory of Ossetia there are several ancient temples - the most famous of them are the Ikorta temple near Akhalgori and the Tirsky monastery near Tskhinvali. There are several castles, for example, the Machabeli castle near the village of Kemerti and the Kekhvi fortress near the village of the same name. There are many more natural attractions, although not all of them are available. For example, the Kelskoe volcanic plateau is more conveniently reached from Georgia.

Note: information on South Ossetia is currently incomplete and inaccurate due to difficulties in visiting the region. For example, outside observers have not yet managed to get into the Akhalgori region. There is very little information about Znaur and Kvaisi.

Visiting Ossetia

At the moment, Ossetia can be visited from the Russian side along the Transkam highway through the Nizhny Zaramag-Ruk border crossing. From the point of view of the Georgian “Law on the occupied territories”, such a visit is a violation of Georgian law. However, citizens of the Russian Federation can make such a visit without traces in the passport. Third-country nationals need an invitation to visit Ossetia. And yet, these citizens sometimes end up in Ossetia, and sometimes they go through Russian customs, but cannot go through Ossetian customs and hang in the neutral zone.

It is best to visit Ossetia with a Russian internal passport. For some unknown reason, Ossetians do not like Russian passports, and a person with such a passport immediately falls under suspicion. (“It makes you suspicious,” as one immigration officer said) If you have a lot of visas and stamps, then this is even more alarming for them. The foreign passport also scares the Russian customs. The reasons for this have not been established.

There is now a bus service between Vladikavkaz and Tskhinvali.

Formally, Ossetia can be visited from Gori, but the border there is restless, and the Georgian police may try to persuade you not to go there. In Soviet times, there was a road from Ossetia to Racha-Lechkhumi, (the so-called “Ossetian military road”), but now it is closed.

From Vladikavkaz to Tskhinvali about 160 kilometers. Buses run from the main bus station every hour from 09:00 to 16:00.

Brief history of the region

Tskhinvali with its surroundings is the very heart of the Georgian civilization, because in fact it is the northern part of the Gori plain. From the antiquities, the Tire Monastery of the XII century has been preserved there. Who lived in ancient times in the mountains north of Tskhinvali is a rather complicated question, but immediately behind the ridge, in the modern Tual gorge of North Ossetia, the Dvals lived, and this place was called Dvaletia. In 1745, the geographer Vakhushti Bagrationi wrote that the area north of Tskhinvali was inhabited by settlers from Dvaletia, although it did not belong to geographical Dvaletia.

Ossetians (Alans) lived for a long time on the northern side of the Caucasus, where they created a large, friendly Georgia, Orthodox state of Alania. This state was destroyed by the Mongols in the middle of the XIII century. Driven into the mountains, the Ossetians began to infiltrate the southern side of the ridge, conquer the Dvalians and raid Georgia. In 1292, they managed to capture and hold the city of Gori for ten years. Then Gori was recaptured, but the Ossetians gradually began to move to the southern side of the Caucasus Range, and at the same time they scattered rather chaotically across the territory of Georgia. As a result, a dense cluster of Ossetian villages was formed in the Java region, villages were formed to the east and west of Gori and in Gori itself, many villages appeared in the spurs of the Trialeti Range, and individual Ossetian families settled in other regions. The Ossetians themselves call the inhabitants of South Ossetia Tuals, distinguishing them from Digors and Irons. There is a suspicion that the Tuals are strongly Ossetian Dvals.

There have never been any problems with Ossetians. Moreover, when the kingdom of Kartli was liquidated and annexed to Russia, it was the highlanders who actively supported the descendants of the Georgian kings who had gone into partisans - Ossetians were such mountaineers. The story of Prince Leon, whom the Ossetians supported in 1810, is especially indicative. Russian troops burned Ossetian villages, starved Ossetians, but the Ossetians did not give Leon away even for big money. They continued to resist the Russian authorities for another 20 years, so that General Paskevich eventually decided on a large-scale campaign against the Ossetians. Only after this campaign did Ossetia calm down.

The Ossetian-Georgian conflict began in earnest in the 20th century.

In 1918, the Ossetians fell under the influence of the Bolsheviks and staged a small uprising, which was brutally suppressed by the leadership of the Transcaucasian Confederation. In 1920, another uprising followed, suppressed by the detachments of Valiko Dzhugeli, whose diaries were published in Russian in the same year. From that moment on, the paths of Ossetians and Georgians began to gradually diverge. After the Soviet conquest of Georgia, Ossetia was singled out as a special region for services to the Soviet authorities. The status of Tskhinvali was in doubt for a long time, but in the end it was also attributed to South Ossetia, although the city was mostly Georgian. From that moment on, Tskhinvali became more and more Ossetian, turning into an Ossetian enclave in the middle of Georgian villages.

For a long time there was no connection at all between North and South Ossetia, except for mountain paths. We traveled from Vladikavkaz to Tskhinvali via Tbilisi. In 1989, an epochal event happened: the Roki tunnel opened and the Transkam highway appeared.

In 1990, Gamsakhurdia made an unsuccessful attempt to pacify Ossetia. In 1992, Shevardnadze repeated this attempt. In the same year, the Sochi agreements on the status of Ossetia were signed and peacekeeping forces were sent to the region. Ossetia turned into a patchwork quilt: Georgia controlled the Akhalgori region, and Ossetia controlled Tskhinvali and the Dzhav region, the rest of the territory consisted of randomly scattered Georgian and Ossetian villages, between which there was a sluggish skirmish.

In 2006, the gebization of the Ossetian leadership went unnoticed, as a result of which Russian generals came to power in the region. (This is the difference between Ossetia and Abkhazia, where the national elite came to power) At that time, the “Tskhinvali Generals” controlled the Java region, Tskhinvali, and several other villages. Georgia controlled the Akhalgori region and the villages around Tskhinvali. The sluggish conflict lasted until 2008, when the famous war took place. The Russian army captured Georgian villages and the Akhalgori region, while several thousand refugees left for Georgia and settled in the Mukhran Valley. The houses of the refugees were destroyed. This is how the Dead Mile appeared near Tskhinvali.

After the war, Russia recognized Ossetia as a state, followed by recognition by Venezuela, Tuvalu and Nauru, but in 2013 Nauru withdrew recognition. In 2014, Tuvalu also refused recognition.

Products and prices

The economy of South Ossetia is strange and usually surprises a person. The country produces practically nothing. 95% of goods are imported from Russia, so all goods are the same as in Vladikavkaz, but more expensive. The same beer, cookies, sausage, milk and flour, but more expensive. There are quite a lot of products in stores, but all this abundance is imported. Even Ossetian pies here cost not 150 rubles, as in Severnaya, but all 200 or 250. And with all this, foreign cars are unrealistically cheap here. They are cheaper than Russian ones by two or even five times. “See the car? This one is worth a million and a half. And they have three hundred thousand!” Mostly Tskhinvali residents got foreign cars, but northerners say that all “southerners” already have foreign cars.

Public catering in the region is not developed. Cafes and restaurants can be seen in Tskhinvali, but not even in Java. But there are roadside eateries, quite expensive. They usually stand on the highway between the villages and serve, as it seems to me, metropolitan jeep owners. On the northern outskirts of Tskhinvali there is a relatively decent cafe with a telling name "Podmoskovye". Bread in the form of lavash is given for 20 rubles, coffee for 30, meat soup "Sharp" - for 130 (this is the cheapest).

There is no service in Ossetian eateries, although it is paid for by 10 percent of the order.

There is no small street trade in pies or cakes here at all. When asked if there is bread in the form of lavash in Tskhinvali, the saleswoman of one cafe answered: “There is probably somewhere.”

Ossetian wine

There is no winery in South Ossetia, but private farms produce quite a lot of wine. Found in the markets. However, they have their own, Ossetian names for wine and grape varieties, and it is difficult to correlate them with well-known ones - for example, with Georgian ones. In addition, local residents do not distinguish between wine varieties at all. According to them, the wine here is "white and red" - that's all the difference. If there were a winery in the region, there would be controlled standards. For now, there are no standards. The words "semi-dry" and "semi-sweet" are not clear to everyone here.

From the conversation it turned out that sugar is always (or very often) added to the wine here. I had to drink Ossetian wine - and yes, sugar was felt there. Homemade wine in Tskhinvali costs 200 rubles per liter. In restaurants, you come across the Georgian "Kindzmarauli" for 600 and "Khvanchkara" for as much as 1000. They assure that it was taken out of Georgia. Exactly how, they don't say.

Politics

Who rules Ossetia is a dark matter, but the formal leadership changes quite often. In 2006, Eduard Kokoity came to power with a group of Russian generals. These guys led the country during the war, and immediately after the war, these generals were kicked out of the government, and then Kokoity himself left, and the Chelyabinsk businessman Brovtsev, outwardly something like Medvedev, became acting. Prior to this, Morozov from the Urals was the prime minister, which leads to strange thoughts about the role of the natives of the Urals in the history of the region.

In April 2012, Leonid Tibilov became president and Ossetia began to mimic Russia. Tibilov is a former KGB officer (which is expected) and a native of the Znauri district, and Allah knows how he made his way into the tight ranks of Tskhinvali officials. They already look askance at Tibilov: the North Ossetians told me that he had some special villas in the Russian Federation. He has no villas in Ossetia itself - local villas will not be allowed.

United Russia also appeared - a party with the hinting name "Unity". She, not very encrypted, imitated "Edro". It was headed by the former secretary of the city party committee, Zurab Kokoev, who has been the chairman of parliament since 2011. And everything seemed to be clear, but the unexpected happened: the party disappeared. A certain Anatoly Bibilov created the United Ossetia party in 2012; in June 2014, this party took part in the parliamentary elections and suddenly won everyone. "Unity" scored some ridiculous percentages and lost all seats in parliament. The new party captured 20 out of 34 seats. In April 2017, Bibilov became the president of the country.

On the whole, South Ossetian political life is exceptionally interesting. She needs to be watched and enjoyed.

Population

The region is inhabited by South Ossetians - a people somewhat different from the North Ossetians. Northerners always talk about them as "they" and do not like southerners. Both Russians and North Ossetians agree: Southerners do not like to work. The northerners of the older generation explain everything more complicated: in their opinion, the southerners were spoiled at first by the Roki tunnel. “They were peaceful, smart people. There were no crimes! And then they built a tunnel - and off they went ... ”Then the war passed and the hard-working, talented southerners deteriorated.

Now the southerners are somewhat more gloomy in appearance (in comparison with the northerners), a little more reserved. Girls are not so optimistic and graceful. There is a feeling of depression, reminiscent of Dagestan.

If you are Russian, then get ready for the fact that you are not particularly welcome here. That is, you will meet an even, benevolent attitude, but - without those Russophile outpourings that are so annoying in Georgia. Officially, Russia is ordered to be loved, and you will see the inscriptions “Thank you, Russia!”, posters “Forever with Russia” and “Alan leopard is the best friend of the Russian bear!”, But the people as a whole will perceive you indifferently, and “employees” - even with some suspicion. There are many Russians here and they do not surprise anyone. There is no economic benefit from them: they have nothing to sell. Tskhinvali jeep owners are mainly busy cutting the Russian budget, and a person rarely loves the one he cuts.

Religion

South Ossetians are Orthodox Christians with some pagan rudiments in their minds. This duality is surprisingly spelled out even in the Constitution: "Orthodoxy and traditional Ossetian beliefs are one of the foundations of the national self-consciousness of the Ossetian people." (Chapter II, Art. 33)

Unlike Georgia, they do not put crosses on every mountain and at every intersection. Temples were not built after 1990, so there are only a few of them in the region. The Tire Monastery was the only active monastery, but in 2010 it was disbanded. The ancient monastery of Sabatsminda near Tskhinvali was interesting, but in 1991 it was destroyed by an earthquake. A temple was noticed in the Ossetian village of Vaneli and 4 temples in Tskhinvali. Several churches on the territory of Georgian villages are now empty.

Historically, the region belonged to the diocese of Nikoz and Tskhinvali, and the village of Nikozi was the residence of the bishop (very close to Tskhinvali, but on the Georgian side). After the conflict began, the Ossetians refused to submit to the Georgian Church and tried to join the Moscow Patriarchate, which, however, did not support this initiative. Then the Ossetians agreed with the Greek Old Calendar Church and in 2005 the Alan diocese was founded. (Not to be confused with the ancient metropolis of Alan!) The problem is that the old calendar church, although it is essentially Orthodox and recognizes all the sacraments, is actually in schism right up to the ban on Eucharistic communion. It turns out that Ossetians actually cannot visit not only Georgian, but also Russian churches (in the sense that they are not allowed to take communion). Accordingly, the Russian Orthodox are not supposed to be present at their service - for reasons of church discipline. At the same time, in Tskhinvali there is a chapel of Alexander Nevsky, which is under the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Connection

Difficulties of staying in Ossetia

South Ossetia is a country where people live not so much according to laws, but according to concepts. Officials are guided here mainly by their moods, and not by official rules. That is, if an employee of the MD does not want you to go somewhere, then we can assume that it is officially forbidden to go there. It was not possible to get an answer from the officers of the Internal Affairs Directorate (in the rank of major) to the question of how long it is allowed to detain a person without bringing charges. Therefore, in Ossetia it is difficult to figure out what is possible and what is not. You have to rely on intuition.

There are many forbidden zones in Ossetia - according to migrant workers, there are so many of them that it is better not to travel around Ossetia unaccompanied at all. Border areas are such zones. For example, the entire Akhalgori (Leningor) region seems to be considered border and closed. In addition, there are many military bases and just military facilities in Ossetia. It seems that there is a base on the Prissky Heights and on Mount Spider near Tskhinvali: this means that you can’t go there. There are already abandoned military facilities - for example, firing points abandoned by the Russian army. I suspect that it is also better not to go there and not take pictures.

In other words, South Ossetia is the USSR, but in a more explicit and crude form. Moreover, the population does not distance itself from the “employees”, but actively helps them. That is, it tends to prohibit something as well.

People working there said that there are still quite a few infantry mines in the region and people are blown up by them from time to time. The surroundings of the Akhalgori highway are especially notorious.

Finally, not everything is going smoothly with wild animals. Ossetians often complain about bears, wolves and wild dogs. In some places it is generally not customary to go without a gun. Locals are usually surprised that someone can spend the night in the forest in a tent. And yet it is possible, although sometimes scary. Ossetia in places resembles the "Zone" from the Strugatskys' story, where strange animals walk between incomprehensible ruins and make incomprehensible sounds. However, this is the charm of Ossetia.

By region

South Ossetia consists of the city of Tskhinvali and several districts.

Tskhinvali(ცხინვალი, Tskhinval Island listen)) is the capital of the region, one of two Ossetian cities with a population of about 17,000 people. A fairly large city on the right bank of the Liakhvi River, about 5 kilometers from north to south and about 2 from east to west. A city without significant antiquities, and, moreover, damaged in 2008. Details about Tskhinvali >>>

Znauri district- located to the west of Tskhinvali. It is densely built up with Ossetian settlements, but it has not been studied at all and is still a big white spot on the map of Transcaucasia.

Java region- the northern region adjacent to the Russian border. The most open and visited area of ​​the region due to the fact that the Transkam passes through it. It is a quiet village with old wooden houses. The area is wooded and sparsely populated.

Akhalgori region- extreme eastern region. Georgia considers it to belong to the region of Mtskheta-Mtianeti. It became part of Ossetia as a result of the 2008 war. Now it has a not entirely clear status, it seems to be a closed border area.