South Ossetia (SO) is an unrecognized stateTranscaucasia (independence of the country is recognized by Russia, Abkhazia, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Naur). The capital of South Ossetia is Tskhinval. The area of the state is about 3,900 km2.
Borders of South Ossetia
The border of South Ossetia with Russia passes along the Caucasian watershed range. The length of the border line is 74 km. Transport communication with Russia is possible only along two highways:
- Through the Mamison Pass on the Ossetian military road. The route passes through the territory of Georgia, the border is closed by border guards of the two powers.
- By Transcaucasian highway throughRoki tunnel. At the Transcaucasian direction, the checkpoint is constantly working. Every day about 1000 cars pass through the checkpoint. Pedestrians are prohibited from crossing the border. Since 2010, there is a visa-free regime between South Ossetia and Russia.
South Ossetian-Georgian border is the borderGeorgia and South Ossetia. According to the Constitution of Georgia, the border and South Ossetia itself as a separate administrative unit does not exist. The government of the republic considers the South Ossetian Autonomous Region an occupied territory, which belongs to the Georgian people.
Agreement with the Russian Federation on the general border security
The agreement between the countries of South Ossetia -Russia provides for assistance from the Russian Federation in training and the complete drafting of the national border service of Ossetia. South Ossetia’s border guards are supported by the Russian military base, which is almost two thousand people. Ossetia provided its own territory for Russian military facilities for a period of 99 years.
Cities and capital of Ossetia
The capital of South Ossetia is Tskhinval, wherelive around 30.5 thousand people (approximately 57% of the total population) 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, 98,000 people lived in South Ossetia, of which 42,300 were citizens in the capital.
The largest in terms of population of the city of South Ossetia in 2015 are represented by such administrative units:
- Kvaisa settlement (Dzau 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%Ossetians became refugees after the August 2008 events. By the end of 2009, only about 1.2 thousand people out of almost 50 thousand who had left did not return to their homeland.
Ethnic composition of the state
The country's population consists of Ossetians, Georgians andsome other ethnic groups: Jews, Armenians, Russians live in South Ossetia. In percentage terms, the ethnic composition of the state is represented by such groups:
- Ossetians make up 69.07% of the total population;
- Georgians - 26.94% of all residents;
- Jews accounted for 2.04%;
- Georgian Jews make up 1.99%
- Armenians - 1.57% of all residents;
- 0.18% of Russians live in the country.
Language of the population
Russian and Ossetian are state languages.in South Ossetia. Is South Ossetia a part of Russia if the state language of the Russian Federation is at the same level as Ossetian? Despite the fact that on November 13, 2011, a referendum on granting the state status to the Russian language was held and 84% of citizens expressed their positive opinion, the official association of the Russian and Ossetian territories did not happen.
All central TV and radio channels broadcastin 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 Parliament of the State adopted the law “On State Languages”. Already on June 6, 2012 the regulatory legal act was approved, and the Russian became the second state one.
Relations of South Ossetia with the Russian Federation
Under the term "Russian-South Ossetian relations"the economic relations of South Ossetia and Russia are understood. Today, the Russian Federation is the main partner of Ossetia in the political, economic and military spheres. The functioning of the state’s economy largely relies on assistance from Russia.
В марте 2015 года между странами было разработано and a deeper integration agreement has been signed. 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 territory to be occupied by Russian troops.
Cooperation in politics, economics, military
In 2015, an agreement was signed, according toto which the Russian Federation and South Ossetia introduce a single defense and customs space. Border crossing since the entry into force of the agreement takes place through a simplified procedure. Also simplified the procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship for residents of South Ossetia. The Russian Federation is connected to medical insurance and the formation of pensions of citizens of Ossetia. In addition, the treaty stipulates that military aggression against one state will be considered as military aggression against two countries.
После подписания соглашения и активного участия The Russian Federation in the economy and politics of South Ossetia on the international political arena, the question arose whether South Ossetia is part of Russia. To this, Leonid Tibilov (President of South Ossetia) answered with a denial and explained that as of 2015, there was no discussion about the unification of 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 is puzzling for the close 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 nineties the relationship of Georgia andSouth Ossetia moved to the military stage. Against this background, full-scale hostilities unfolded in August 2008. Thanks to the intervention of Russia, the Georgian army left the territory of South Ossetia, after which the Russian government recognized the independence of the republic. This was an unexpected decision, since South Ossetia was counting on the annexation of the territory to the Russian lands.
In November 2011, after the recognition of the RussianThe Federation of Independence of South Ossetia, presidential elections were held in the republic. The President of the Republic was V.V. Brovtsev. In 2014, the country held a parliamentary election in which the United Ossetia party won the most votes. Representatives of political forces wanted South Ossetia to become part of Russia. But, having received power, politicians could not fulfill the “century dream” of Ossetian residents.
In June 2016 a new text was prepared.agreement on the integration between South Ossetia and the Russian Federation. The first document dealt with the complete absorption of South Ossetian law enforcement agencies by the Russians in such a way as to transfer to the Russian Federation the right to make decisions concerning the state security of Ossetia, but at the same time not to deprive Ossetians of their independence. As a result, the option of joining the Russian Federation was excluded and the degree of integration of South Ossetia into the space of Russia decreased significantly.
Modern Russia and the probability of combining with SO
RF faced with international sanctions in responsethe annexation of the Crimea, so now it’s simply not profitable to include the Ossetian people in the state - this will cause additional criticism from the world community, which could later lead to even greater sanctions. Therefore, to the question “Is South Ossetia part of Russia?”, The Russian authorities openly declare their disapproval of the unification attempts. This is a frank recognition of Russia that they have no relationship with the progressive but poorly organized political force of South Ossetia. Modern Russia acts more as a supportive side of the current president of Ossetia.
What other states tend to join the Russian Federation?
South Ossetians are not the only peoplewhich seeks to join the Russian Federation. The new composition of Russia was formed on March 18, 2014, when the Crimea peninsula was annexed to the state.
Transnistria, for example, is unrecognized.the 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 in 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 its citizens with Russian citizenship live on its territory.
In 2014, to the authorities of the Russian Federation with the request of associationHeads of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk Republics addressed. The DPR and LPR were destroyed during the long war, and large investments are needed to restore the cities. Therefore, the Russian government is in no hurry to include them in its membership.
