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The ethnolinguistic map of the modern Caucasus showing the Ossetian-inhabited territories in light green

Ossetia (pronounced /ɒˈsɛtɪə/^[1] or /oʊˈsiːʃə/^[2]; Ossetic: Ир, Ирыстон Ir, Iryston; Russian: Осетия, Osetiya; Georgian: ოსეთი, Oset'i) is an ethnolinguistic region located on both sides of the Greater Caucasus Mountains, largely inhabited by the Ossetians, an Iranian people who speak the Ossetian language (an Eastern Iranian language, Indo-European group of languages). The Ossetian-speaking area south to the main Caucasus ridge is recognized by most countries as within the borders of Georgia, but under the control of the Russian-backed de facto government of the Republic of South Ossetia. The northern portion of the region consists of the republic of North Ossetia-Alania within the Russian Federation.

[edit] Recent history

Map of North and South Ossetia.

For earlier history, see Alans, Sarmatians

• 1774 — North Ossetia becomes part of the Russian Empire^[3]
• 1801 - South Ossetia becomes part of the Russian Empire, along with Georgia^[4]
• 1922 — Ossetia is divided^[5][6] into two parts: North Ossetia remains a part of Russian SFSR, South Ossetia remains a part of Georgian SSR.
• 20 September 1990 independent Republic of South Ossetia. The republic remained unrecognized, yet it detached itself from Georgia de facto. In the last years of the Soviet Union, ethnic tensions between Ossetians and Georgians in Georgia's former Autonomous Oblast of South Ossetia (abolished in 1990) and between Ossetians and the Ingush in North Ossetia evolved into violent clashes that left several hundreds dead and wounded and created a large tide of refugees on both sides of the border.^[7][8]

Although a Russian-mediated and OSCE-monitored ceasefire was implemented in South Ossetia in 1992, the Georgian-Ossetian conflict still remains unresolved even though a recent peace plan proposed by the government of Georgia promised the South Ossetians larger autonomy and pledged expanded international involvement in the political settlement of the conflict. Meanwhile, the South Ossetian secessionist authorities demand independence or unification with North Ossetia under the Russian Federation while the international community refuses to recognize South Ossetia as an independent country and considers the area part of Georgia.

On Sunday 12 November 2006, South Ossetians (mostly ethnic Ossetians) went to the polls to vote in a referendum regarding the region's independence from Georgia. The result was a "yes" to independence, with a turnout above 95% from those among the territory's 70,000 people who were eligible to vote at that time.^[9] There was also a vote in favour of a new term for South Ossetia's president, Eduard Kokoity.

[edit] 2008 South Ossetia war

This section requires expansion.

On August 8, 2008, the 2008 South Ossetia war broke out involving Georgia, South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Russia.

[edit] See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ossetia

• History of North Ossetia-Alania
• Alania

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Ossetian Dance, Rustavi Dance Company, 2008, YouTube: [3] (6 min 19 sec).
• Ossetian Dance, 2008, YouTube: [4] (6 min 50 sec).
• Ossetian Folk Dance, 2007, YouTube: [5] (3 min).