The Russo-Georgian War broke out in August 2008 and involved Georgia, Russian Federation, South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Abkhazia and South Ossetia are separatist regions of Georgia in the Caucasus. Most countries recognise them as part of Georgia, while Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru, and Syria regard them as independent. Russia's initial recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia occurred in the aftermath of the Russo-Georgian War in 2008. The government of Georgia considers the republics to be Russian-occupied territories.
Abkhazia–South Ossetia relations are bilateral foreign relations between the Republic of Abkhazia and the Republic of South Ossetia, whose international status is disputed – they are both considered part of Georgia by the majority of the world's states.
The Government of the Republic of South Ossetia is the political leadership of the partially recognised Republic of South Ossetia.
Telephone numbers in South Ossetia use two area codes – 850 and 929 – in the Russia–Kazakhstan numbering zone.
Alla Aleksandrovna Dzhioyeva is a South Ossetian teacher turned politician, who is currently Deputy Prime Minister in the South Ossetian government. She previously served as the Education Minister in 2002–2008. She won the 2011 presidential election, but the Supreme Court annulled the results, alleging that electoral fraud had been committed.
South Ossetia does not issue visas. However, visitors are required to receive approval from the South Ossetian government in advance of their visit unless they are citizens of exempt country. South Ossetia may only be entered through Russia. Visitors are required to hold a valid Russian visa that permits them to return to Russia unless they are Russian citizens or citizens of countries that are exempt from Russian visa requirements.
Visa requirements for South Ossetian citizens are administrative entry restrictions imposed on citizens of South Ossetia by the authorities of other states.
The Ministry of Defense of South Ossetia is a government agency of the partially recognized Republic of South Ossetia. It is the executive body in implementing defense policies in of the Armed Forces of South Ossetia. The current Minister of Defense is Colonel Inal Sabanov.
Lieutenant General Ibrahim Alimbegovich Gazseev is a South Ossetian military leader and government official. He served as the Minister of Defence of South Ossetia from 2016 to 2022.
The 4th Guards Military Base is a sizable overseas military base of the Russian Armed Forces stationed in the disputed territory of South Ossetia. Russia considers South Ossetia to be an independent state and justifies its military deployment in the area by an intergovernmental agreement, while Georgia considers the entity as its territory occupied by Russia.
The Sukhumi Higher Combined-Arms Command School (SVOKU), is a higher military institution of the Abkhazian Armed Forces based in Sukhumi, as its name implies. It is the only educational institution in the armed forces. Outside of the SVOKU, Abkhazian cadets rely on Military academies in Russia.
The Georgia–South Ossetia separation line is a de facto boundary set up in aftermath of the 1991–1992 South Ossetia War and Russo-Georgian War, which separates the self-declared Republic of South Ossetia from the territory controlled by the Government of Georgia. South Ossetia, and those states that recognise its independence, view the line as an international border separating two sovereign states, whereas the Georgian government views it as an occupation line in accordance with the Georgian "Law on Occupied Territories of Georgia". The Constitution of Georgia does not recognize South Ossetia as having any special status within Georgia, therefore the line does not correspond to any Georgian administrative area, with the territory claimed by the Republic of South Ossetia shared out amongst several Georgian Mkhares: Shida Kartli, Imereti, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti and Mtskheta-Mtianeti.
The Order of Uatsamonga is a state award of South Ossetia. It was established in 2007. As of February 2015, it has no legislative support. In 2010, the Union of Knights of the Order was formed. The order is named for the Uatsamonga (Uacamonga), a magical cup mentioned in the Nart saga.
Nykhaz is a political party in South Ossetia founded in 2013 by supporters of Independent president Leonid Tibilov. Its members and supporters are referred to as Nykhasovites in local media.
Yuri Dzitssuty, also known by his patronymic, Yuri Albertovich, is an Ossetian politician from the partially recognized Caucasian Republic of South Ossetia, which most of the UN recognizes as part of Georgia, occupied by Russia.
The National Anthem of the Republic of South Ossetia, also known by its incipit "Beloved Ossetia", was adopted on 5 May 1995. The lyrics were written by Totraz Kokaev, and the music was composed by Felix Alborov. It was composed before South Ossetia's de facto independence from Georgia, while both were still part of the Soviet Union.
The State Information Agency better known by its abbreviation RES is the State media agency of the South Ossetian government.
Ira Farn is a political party in the from the partially recognized Caucasian Republic of South Ossetia, which most of the UN recognizes as part of Georgia, occupied by Russia.
South Ossetia 
