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Constitution |
An independence referendum was held in South Ossetia on 19 January 1992. [1] The voters answered the questions: "Do you agree that South Ossetia should be an independent country?" and "Do you agree with the South Ossetian parliament solution of September 1, 1991 on reunion with Russia?" [1] The proposals were approved by 99.9% of voters, [1] but the results were not recognised internationally. [2]
In November 1989 the Supreme Soviet of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast voted for conversion to the status of an Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. However, the Georgian government revoked the territory's autonomous status on 1 December 1990. Although Georgia boycotted the March 1991 referendum on creating a renewed Soviet federation, South Ossetian voters took part. When Georgia held an independence referendum later in the month, it was boycotted in South Ossetia. [1]
On 28 November 1991 the South Ossetia government declared independence. [1]
Question | For | Against | Invalid/ blank | Total votes | Registereed voters | Turnout | Outcome | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | % | Votes | % | ||||||||||
Independence | 53,308 | 99.91 | 48 | 0.09 | 85 | 53,441 | 55,151 | 96.90 | Approved | ||||
Reunion with Russia | 53,291 | 99.89 | 57 | 0.11 | 93 | 53,441 | 96.90 | Approved | |||||
Source: Direct Democracy |
Ossetia is an ethnolinguistic region located on both sides of the Greater Caucasus Mountains, largely inhabited by the Ossetians. The Ossetian language is part of the Eastern Iranian branch of the family of Indo-European languages. Most countries recognize the Ossetian-speaking area south of the main Caucasus ridge as lying within the borders of Georgia, but it has come under the control of the de facto government of the Russian-backed Republic of South Ossetia – the State of Alania. The northern portion of the region consists of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania within the Russian Federation.
South Ossetia, officially the Republic of South Ossetia – the State of Alania, is a partially recognised landlocked state in the South Caucasus. It has an officially stated population of just over 56,500 people (2022), who live in an area of 3,900 square kilometres (1,500 sq mi), on the south side of the Greater Caucasus mountain range, with 33,000 living in the capital city, Tskhinvali. Only Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru, and Syria recognise South Ossetia as a sovereign state. Although Georgia does not control South Ossetia, the Georgian government and the United Nations consider the territory part of Georgia.
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The Georgian–Ossetian conflict is an ethno-political conflict over Georgia's former autonomous region of South Ossetia, which evolved in 1989 and developed into a war. Despite a declared ceasefire and numerous peace efforts, the conflict remained unresolved. In August 2008, military tensions and clashes between Georgia and South Ossetian separatists erupted into the Russo-Georgian War. Since then, South Ossetia has been under Russian occupation.
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South Ossetia is an autonomous region in Georgia, approximately 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) above sea level on the slopes of the Greater Caucasus. Although it declared independence in 2008, only a few countries acknowledge it. The region is inhabited by Ossetians, an Iranian ethnic group. According to Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Syria and Nauru, it is one of the world's newest independent states. All other states and international organisations consider South Ossetia an autonomous region of Georgia, functioning as a de facto state for twenty years after declaring independence and conducting a successful armed rebellion. Its Georgian inhabitants have been displaced. South Ossetia has been a source of tension for a number of years, with Georgia and Russia's political differences impeding peaceful independence and breeding a turbulent series of events which undermine the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
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