South Ossetia. Capital of South Ossetia. Description and features

Many, even quite erudite people, may wonder what the name of Ossetia is. Although this is not surprising, given that this state was only recently formed and recognized by far from all countries in the political arena, and, accordingly, a wide range of people still have little information about its administrative structure. Tskhinval is the capital of South Ossetia, a city that is at the same time one of the most developed and largest.

general information

Tskhinvali remained the center of the South Ossetian Autonomous Region until 1990, when a decision was made to create a separate republic, whose political status is still disputed. However, 5 states nevertheless recognize South Ossetia as an independent territory. Tskhinval is located in the southern region of the Caucasus.

City name

Now you know what the capital of South Ossetia is, but what about the different variants of the name of this city? There are two variants of the name of the area. The city is called "Tskhinvali", while in Russian, "Tskhinvali" is most often used.

Short story

The existence of a village called Tskhinval was mentioned already in 1398. In the 18th century it was already a "royal city", which was inhabited mainly by monastic serfs. In the twentieth century, it became an important transport artery that connects several regions at once. In 1922, Tskhinvali was officially recognized as the administrative center of the South Ossetian Autonomous Region. If in the first two decades of the twentieth century a large Jewish and Georgian population lived on the territory of the city, then in 1959 the majority of the inhabitants were Ossetians.

Jewish quarter

The capital of South Ossetia is known for its ancient architectural monuments. Among other things, the Jewish Quarter stands out, in which you can visit numerous ruins of ancient buildings, synagogues, remnants of merchant mansions. Despite the fact that after the military confrontation with Russia in 2008, a large part of the Jewish population left the area, this part of the Old City still gives tourists an idea of ​​how people lived here several decades ago, because practically nothing has changed here.

In the south of the Jewish Quarter, there is an ancient Georgian church, which eleven centuries ago was assembled from river stone, and now, although it has fallen into decay, it still impresses visitors.

Church of the Holy Mother of God

The capital of South Ossetia is replete with ancient clerical monuments, which are now located not in the very best condition... For example, in the central part of the city you can visit It was badly damaged after the bombing during the Russian-Georgian conflict, although today it has been partially restored. There is a small square in front of the Church of the Holy Mother of God.

Other attractions

In the city you can find other monuments of ancient architecture. The capital of South Ossetia is famous for the Cavt Church of St. George, the Zguder Church, etc.

Military conflict

Few in Russia knew what the capital of South Ossetia was before the troops had to invade Georgia to resolve the military conflict. This happened in August 2008. The events of that period were imprinted in the minds of all residents of the city.

As a result of the armed conflict, which lasted only five days, several hundred people died. A considerable part of the residents suffered from the hostilities, almost every resident of the city lost at least one close or dear person.

Now, several years later, these events are called "War 08.08.08". Although these military events were quite expected, nevertheless the inhabitants of South Ossetia hoped to the last that government will not start a war. On August 8, 2008 at 23:30 in Tskhinvali heard the first artillery strike delivered by the Georgians. Despite the fact that the government brought its tank and infantry troops into the city, the residents managed to hold out until the moment when the Russian military came to the rescue.

Results of the conflict

The whole world learned that the city of Tskhinvali is the name of the capital. South Ossetia after the armed conflict was partially recognized as a separate state. But was it worth all the permits and human lives lost?

After a difficult five-day confrontation, the city suffered incredible losses. Only according to official data, about 80% of the buildings of the housing stock were destroyed. The Jewish Quarter was badly damaged and turned into ruins. Here, even before the hostilities, there were many buildings in a very poor condition, and after it there was no point in rebuilding and restoring anything anew.

The tallest building in the city, a psychiatric hospital, was badly damaged, which was probably one of the main targets for the Georgian gunners. Hospital workers are still surprised that they miraculously managed to save everyone inside, and the brave nurses were able to hide the patients in the basement.

Output

The military actions of 2008 did not strongly affect South Ossetia and the city of Tskhinval in particular. Suffered here great amount people, a significant part of the city was destroyed, special damage to the ancient architecture took place in the Jewish quarter - the historical and most famous part of the city. After the end of hostilities, many people on the territory learned what the capital of South Ossetia was. The city of Tskhinval was partially restored, but most of it still remains badly damaged.

Little by little, new facilities are being built here, including new neighborhoods. In 2009, a new gas pipeline was even launched, which connects South Ossetia and Russia directly, since the old one was destroyed during the five-day war. Perhaps in the very near future the city will not be finally rebuilt, but the government of the state is on the right track. Gradually, albeit slowly, with the help of the Russian government, residents of the city and the country are returning to their usual life.

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

Borders of South Ossetia

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

1. Through the Mamison pass along the Ossetian military 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 operating. About 1000 cars pass through the checkpoint every day. Pedestrians are prohibited from crossing 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 Georgian Constitution, the border and South Ossetia itself as a separate administrative unit does not exist. The government of the republic considers the South Ossetian Autonomous Okrug an occupied territory, which belongs to the Georgian people.

Agreement with the Russian Federation on general 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 full preparation of the national border service of Ossetia. The border guards of South Ossetia are supported by the Russian military base, which is almost two thousand people. Ossetia 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 live (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 shrinking. 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 Kvaysa (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% of the Ossetian became refugees after the August 2008 events. By the end of 2009, only about 1.2 thousand people out of almost 50 thousand 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 account for 2.04%;
• Georgian Jews make up 1.99%
• Armenians - 1.57% of all residents;
• 0.18% of Russians live in the country.

Language 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 with Ossetian in the country? Despite the fact that on November 13, 2011, a referendum was held on the assignment of state status the Russian language and 84% of citizens spoke positively, formal association Russian and Ossetian territories did not happen.

All central television and radio channels broadcast in Russian, newspapers and magazines are published 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 normative legal act was approved, and Russian became the second state one.

Relations of South Ossetia with the Russian Federation

The term "Russian-South Ossetian relations" refers to the 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's economy is largely based 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 borders from the moment of entry into force of the agreement takes place according to a simplified 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 in the international political arena, the question arose whether South Ossetia is part of Russia. To this, Leonid Tibilov (President of South Ossetia) responded with denial and explained that as of 2015, there was no question 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 territorial integrity Georgia.

Dependent independent South Ossetia

Is South Ossetia a part of Russia? This question causes bewilderment among the South Ossetian neighbors. 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, relations between Georgia and South Ossetia entered 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 Russian lands.

In November 2011, after the Russian Federation recognized the independence of South Ossetia, presidential elections were held in the republic. V.V.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 the political force wanted South Ossetia to become part of Russia. But, having gained power, the politicians were unable to 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 security forces by the Russian ones so as to transfer to the Russian Federation the right on decisions concerning state security Ossetia, but at the same time do not deprive the Ossetians of independence. As a result, the option of joining the Russian Federation was ruled out and the degree of South Ossetia's integration into the Russian space decreased significantly.

Modern Russia and the likelihood of unification with South Ossetia

RF 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 society, which may subsequently lead to even greater sanctions. Therefore, when asked "Is South Ossetia a part of Russia?" the authorities of the Russian Federation openly declare their disapproval of connection attempts. This is a frank admission of Russia that they have no relationship with the progressive, but poorly organized political force of South Ossetia. Modern Russia acts more as a supporting side of the incumbent president of Ossetia.

What other states are seeking to enter

Residents of South Ossetia are not the only people who seek to join the Russian Federation. New composition Russia was formed on March 18, 2014, when the Crimea 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 admit the unrecognized republic to 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 approached the Russian authorities with a request to unite. The DPR and LPR were destroyed during the long war, and large investments are needed to rebuild the cities. Therefore, it is in no hurry to include them in its composition.

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

SOUTH OSSETIA (Hussar Iriston), Republic of South Ossetia (Republic of Hussar Iriston).

General information

Yu. O. is a partially recognized state in the Transcaucasus. 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 Tskhinval. Officer. languages ​​- Ossetian, Russian and Georgian (in places of compact residence of Georgians). Monetary unit - grew. ruble. Adm.-Terr. division: 4 districts and the city of republican subordination Tskhinvali (tab.).

Administrative divisions (2015)

Political system

Yu. O. is a 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, own state. languages ​​of the republic and permanently reside in the territory of South Ossetia for the last 10 years preceding the day of registration as candidates. The President determines the main. directions of domestic and foreign policy of the state, represents Yu. O. inside the country and in the international. relationship.

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

The Supreme will execute. the body is the government. The President as the head will execute. power determines DOS. directions of the government and organizes its work. Members of the government are individually accountable to parliament and collectively to the president.

Nature

Relief

Yu. O. occupies the south. slopes center. parts of Greater Caucasus and sowing. part of the Inner Kartli Plain. Almost 90% of the territory is represented by a mid-mountain erosion-denudation (height 1000–2000 m) and alpine (above 2000 m) paleoglacial relief. All in. parts stretch the ridges Tualsky (Dvaletsky; heights up to 3938 m, Mount Khalatsa - the highest point of the South O.), Khadsky (Mtiuletsky), Syrkhlabirdsky (Rachinsky), Kudarsky (Kudaroisky), Kortokhsky (Likhsky), Galavdursky (Kharulsky), Kudikomsky (Lomissky) and others, dissected by deep gorges. Passes through the Glavnyi, or Vodorazdelny, ridge of the Greater Caucasus (the main pass is the Roksky vysk. 2995 m) connect the South Ossetia with the North. Ossetia (Russia). In the northeast on the high mountain volcanic. The Kelskoye highlands rise the cones of extinct volcanoes Kel (height 3628 m), Khorisar (3736 m), Fidarkhokh (3050 m) and others. Mountain areas are avalanche and mudflow hazardous, intense erosion. Karst is developed.

Geological structure and minerals

The territory is located within the Caucasian segment Alpine-Himalayan mobile belt... North. some of them belong to the fold-cover system of the Greater Caucasus of the Alpine age. Terrigenous, terrigenous-carbonate and carbonate flysch of the Upper Jurassic, Cretaceous and early Paleogene crumpled into folds, broken by thrusts. To the south. part of it enters the Transcaucasian massif with a Late Proterozoic-Cambrian folded base and a Mesozoic volcanic-sedimentary cover; an intermontane depression filled with Neogene-Quaternary clastic molasses is superimposed on the massif. Along the sowing. the boundaries of the massif distinguish the Gagra-Dzhava fold zone, composed of volcanic and sedimentary rocks of the Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous. High seismicity is characteristic. The settlements in Yu. O. suffered greatly from the Racha-Dzau (Racha-Dzhavsky) earthquake on April 29, 1991 (magnitude 6.9, intensity 9–10 points); died St. 100 people

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

Climate

The climate in the south-east changes with altitude from moderately dry warm, with cool winters and hot summers in the southeast. parts to wet, with long cold winters and cool summers above 2000 m and wet, cold during the year above 3000 m - in the north. Wed January temperature –1 ° C in Tskhinvali (867 m), at a height. up to 2000 m from –3 to –8 ° C, higher - 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 the height. 3200-3300 m. glaciation is insignificant, the largest glacier is Lagzzigi (area approx. 1.8 km 2).

Inland waters

The B. ch. Rivers belongs to the basin of the Caspian m. [Bolshaya Liakhva (Bolshaya Liakhvi) and Malaya Liakhva (Malaya Liakhvi), Chisandon (Ksani), Medzida (Mejuda)], the smaller one belongs to the basin of the Black m. [Karganagdon (Kvirila), Jojora]. The rivers are fed preim. snow and rain. Max. runoff in May - early June, low water in the second half of summer and winter. Picturesque waterfalls Let (on the Dzhodzhora river), Shikhantur on the same name. river. The largest lake is Kelitsad (Kel, Kelistba; area 1279.6 m 2); lake Ertso (square 0.4 km 2) is the largest of the karst lakes in the Caucasus. The dammed lake is interesting. Koz (Kwezi), Sirkhdzuar (Tsitelikhat) crater lakes. On the river Malaya Liakhva, the Zonkar reservoir was created.

Soils, flora and fauna

In the foothills, there are secondary shrub steppes with dog-rose, hawthorn, and tree-holding in place of cleared forests on brown soils. In the extreme south, there are areas with freegana. In the valleys there is tree and shrub vegetation on alluvial soils. Forests and shrubs occupy about 1/2 of the territory. In the lower zone of forests (from a height of 600-700 m), oak and oak-hornbeam forests with shrubs (medlar, dogwood, barberry) and fruit trees (wild apple, pear, cherry) prevail. 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 soil. In the west, in the forests, there are Colchian elements (in the evergreen underbrush - cherry laurel, holly, butcher, 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's maple, and Radde birch are widespread. The share of beech is approx. 80% of the entire forested area. Above 2200-2350 m there are subalpine (with Caucasian rhododendron) and alpine meadows on mountain meadow soils.

Hamsters, voles, field mice, hedgehogs, hares, foxes, jackals are common in the steppes. The mountain forests are inhabited by the brown bear, deer, roe deer, wild boar, lynx, wolf, fox, squirrel, stone marten, etc., and numerous birds (spruce bough, Caucasian warbler, nuthatch). In the subalpine belt, there are Caucasian black grouse, in the alpine belt, turs and chamois live, mountain turkeys-ulars are common. There are partridges, partridges; of birds of prey - golden eagle, bearded man, falcon, eagle, peregrine falcon. The Red Data Book species of flora and fauna are berry yew, Caucasian rhododendron, satirioid steveniella, burnt orchis; Caucasian viper (Kaznakova), Dinnik's viper, Caucasian frog, Central Asian leopard.

Condition and protection of the environment

From the beginning. 1990s forest areas have decreased as a result of massive felling (including valuable tree species), soil erosion has intensified, rivers have become shallower and springs have disappeared. As a result of long-term anthropogenic impact, foothill forests have been brought down, their lower boundary has been raised, and the area of ​​secondary shrubs has increased. As a result of illegal hunting, the number of red deer, roe deer, wild boar, and bear has sharply decreased, after tightening protective measures, the situation has improved. There is an acute problem of air pollution along the Transcaucasian highway, as well as waste disposal.

Nature is protected in the South Ossetian reserve, created in 2010 on the basis of the Liakhvsky reserve.

Population

Most of the population of South Ossetia is Ossetians (89.9%; 2015, census), Georgians (7.4%), Russians (1.1%), and others also live.

The population in 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. due to migrations. outflow as a result of the military. actions in the beginning. 1990s and in 2008. Natural. the growth of us. 0.4 people per 1000 inhabitants, the birth rate is 10.1 per 1000 inhabitants, the mortality rate is 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 share of people of working age (15–64 years old) 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 the density of us. 13.7 people / km 2. The more flat south of the country is most densely populated. Share of mountains. US. 65.5%. In South Ossetia there are 2 cities - Tskhinval (30,400 people) and Kvaisa (Kvaisi; 1,0 thousand people), as well as 3 villages in the mountains. type (Dzau, Znaur and Leningor). The number of employed is 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., hl are presented. arr. Orthodoxy and Tradition osset. beliefs. Yu. O. is part of the canonical. territory Georgian Orthodox Church(Nikoz-Tskhinvali diocese), however, due to the military-political. conflict on the territory of Yu. O. Mn. Orthodox parishes became part of the non-canonical. formations. Nowadays, part of the Orthodox parishes are also cared for by the clergy of the Rus. Orthodox Church Mosk. patriarchy, part [eg, mon. Largvis (Largvisi)] - in the jurisdiction of Cargo. Orthodox Church.

Historical sketch

The earliest traces of human activity in the region (0.6–0.3 million years ago) belong to Achel (caves Kudaro, Tsona; sediments before the Eneolithic). Mu stye is represented by the Kudar and Tskhinvali cultures. Sites of the Late Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic are few. In the early Bronze Age, it spreads here Kuro-Arax culture, at the burial ground Sachra (Sakira; v. Korinta), a burial was found associated with North Caucasian culture... Middle Bronze Age presented Trialetic culture... On the settlement of Natsargora (within the boundaries of present-day Tskhinvali) there are layers from the Eneolithic to the Middle Bronze Age.

In the Late Bronze Age, the region was one of the zones of Protocoban 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 southern Kobanian version (culture), where for the 7-6th centuries. BC NS. the impact Scythian archaeological culture(including products in Scythian-Siberian animal style).

From the turn of the 4th to 3rd centuries. BC NS. territory of modern Yu. O. was part of the zone of influence of Iberia. A number of traditions of the Koban culture are preserved, there are connections with the Achaemenid, Parthian, Hellenistic, Late antique, Sassanian cultural and political. centers, Sarmatian archaeological cultures... Among the indicators of the peculiarities of the culture of the region and adjacent lands are rectangular openwork buckles in the main. with zoomorphic images (3rd century BC - 3rd century AD). From ser. 3 - early 4th c. on the territory of modern. In the Yu. O., the Caucasian Alans are intensively settled.

Kudets, probably corresponding to the Kudars, and Dvalians (see article Ossetians) 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 - churches in the village. Tigwa (1152) and s. Icorta (1172); monasteries (of the later, the most famous is the Tire Monastery in the village of Monasteri, 13-14 centuries). From the beginning. 10 c. land of modern. Yu. O. were located on the borders of Alania and Gruz. kingdom. In 1222, 1238–39 and in 1395, the Alanian statehood was destroyed by the Mongols and Timur, who also subjugated the cargo. land. Alans displaced into the high mountain gorges Center. Caucasus, subsequently partially settled to the south. slope of the Main Caucasian ridge, mixing with the local population. Another migration wave of Ossetians to the territory of the present. Yu. O. belongs to the 16-18 centuries. From the end. 14 - 1st floor. 15th century Tskhinvali (Krtskhinvali) is known.

In the mountainous regions, starting from the early Middle Ages, the process of forming a federation of local local societies developed. Y-shaped river valley. The Great Liakhva and its tributaries, the territory of South Ossetia was divided into 5 historical. regions, or societies: north-west - Kudargom, north-east - Urs-Tualta ("White tuals"); central - Dzaugom (Lower Dvaletia); southwest - Kornis, southeast - Chisangom. Each area 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 buildings of the 16-18 centuries have been preserved along with semi-underground and 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, however, repeated attempts by feudal lords (Ksan and Aragv Eristavs, princes Machabeli), some of whom had an Osset. origin, to subjugate the mountainous regions of the present. Yu. O. had no final success. An attempt to create instead of osset was also unsuccessful. principalities large adm. region within Kartli. G. Saakadze, appointed by the king of Kartli Luarsab II "the ruler of Tskhinvali and Dvaletia", undertook a large-scale campaign against the Dvalians in 1624, but failed to conquer them completely. They tried to subjugate the lands of the present. Yu. O. and the kings of Imereti. In response, from the beginning. 17th century the "person" ("Ossetian") is gaining strength - the period of the Ossetian raids on the cargo. land.

After Kuchuk-Kainardzhiyskiy peace 1774 the inclusion of the osset began. lands in Ros. empire. After entering in 1801 in Ros. the empire of the Kartli-Kakhetian kingdom, the entire territory of the present. Yu. O. becomes part of it, and local peasants began to transfer cargo into serfdom. feudal lords, which caused sharp protests from the mountaineers. The military was the answer. the expedition grew. administrations together with the Xanian eristavs, 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 province. (1801-40), Georgian-Imereti province(1840–46), in which Osset was created. env. (1840–42), in 1842 the Maloliakhvsky site was left in its structure, and the Ksansky site became part of the Gorsky district. In 1846, the lands of Yu.O. were divided between Tiflis province(as part of Gori and Dusheti districts) and Kutaisi province(as part of the Rachinsky district). Historical processes that began in the 19th century led to the destruction of the structure of the Osset. mining societies.

After Feb. revolution of 1917 created on the territory of Yu. O. Nat. advice from representatives of decomp. politician parties and the 1st Congress of Delegates of the South. and North. 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 27.1 (9.2) .1918 the Osset was created in Tiflis. Bolshevik organization "Chermen". Arms began in March 1918. clashes, but the uprising was suppressed by the load. troops. In 1918–21 Yu. O. was declared a component part of Gruz. democratic republics. In May 1919, cargo was introduced into South Ossetia. troops, and on 12.6.1919 in the village. Java was created by South Ossetian. district committee of the RCP (b). Dec. 1919, after another expedition, the cargo. troops, part of the rebels of Yu. O. moved to the North. Ossetia. 8.5.1920 in the area of ​​the Roksky (Ruki) pass of the South Osset. rebels proclaimed owls. power, 6/6/1920 occupied with. Java, and on 7 June 1920 entered Tskhinvali. There, on 8/6/1920, the establishment of owls was proclaimed. 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 okrug committee on May 28, 1920 in Vladikavkaz). 6/12/1920 Tskhinval is again occupied by cargo. troops, carried out the show. execution of 13 people, destruction of the South Ossetians began. sat down. Means. part of the Osset. population (from 20 to 50 thousand people) fled to the North. Ossetia. In March 1921, the territory of South Ossetia came under the control of the Red Army, and the Sov. power.

On October 31, 1921, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Georgia (Bolsheviks) of Georgia granted Yu. O. the status of autonomy. 20.4.1922 by decree of the CEC Cargo. SSR in its composition was formed by South Osset. AO with the center in Tskhinvali (now Tskhinvali). In 1940, the Kvaisinskoye ore administration began its work. In Vel. Otech. war, in preparation Battles for the Caucasus 1942–43, erected defended. the border in the zone of the Magsky, Dzomagsky, Roksky, Sbiysky and Urstualsky passes (100 km long) and the Kirov defense and fortification line (20 km) in Kudargoma. In 1988 the Transcaucasian Highway (Transkam) was put into operation. On the whole, the rates of development of the economy and social sphere of Yu. O. lagged behind other regions of Georgia.

During the years of perestroika, interethnic contradictions between Ossetians and Georgians intensified. 11/10/1989 12th Extraordinary Session of the Council of People. deputies of South Osset. AO made a decision to transform the region into the ASSR as part of Gruz. SSR (not recognized by the Armed Forces of the Georgian SSR). In response, the cargo. informal organizations announced a rally in Tskhinvali on 11/23/1989 in support of the cargo. population Yu.O .: a convoy of trucks approached Tskhinval from Tbilisi from approx. 20-30 thousand people. However, its entry into the city was prevented by the police, int. troops and osset. volunteers. Arms began. collisions, from mid-December. 1989 Yu. O. the cargo was blocked. armed detachments, there were demands for the liquidation of the autonomy of Yu. O. 20.9.1990 14th session of the Council of People. deputies of South Osset. AO unilaterally announced the transformation of the region into South Osset. Sov. Democratic (until 28.11.1990) Republic, appealed to the USSR Armed Forces with a request to include it in the USSR and adopted the "Declaration on the sovereignty of South Ossetia." 9.12.1990 elections were held for the People. deputies of South Osset. Sov. Republic. An important role in the formation of modern. statehood Yu. O. was played by T.G. In turn, the cargo. the party on 12/11/1990 abolished Yugo-Osset. AO and introduced a state of emergency on its territory. On 7.1.1991, the President of the USSR annulled the decisions made both in Tbilisi and in Tskhinvali, formally restoring the status quo. In Yu. O., the escalation of the military began. actions, 6.1.1991 on its territory were introduced means. force load. armed formations. 4.5.1991 under pressure from the union center Meeting of People. deputies of South Osset. JSC of all levels made a decision to restore the status of JSC (not recognized by the cargo party). However, already on 1.9.1991 at the session of the Council of People. deputies of South Osset. 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 adopted to the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR to consider the issue of its reunification with Russia. On 21.12.1991 session of the RSO Supreme Council adopted the Declaration of Independence, the decision to create an independent state was confirmed by the results of the referendum on 19.1.1992. The formation of the RSO was accompanied by the military. conflict 1991-1992 with cargo. side, during which approx. 1000 Ossetians. On May 29, 1992, the RSO Supreme Council adopted the Declaration of Independence Act. According to the Sochi (Dagomys) agreement of the presidents of the Russian Federation and Georgia on 24.6.1992 on the principles of the settlement of the Georgian-Osset. 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 he was the head of the RSO Supreme Council). Russian-cargo was signed in 2000. intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in economic recovery in the Georgian-Osset zone. 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 rule of law, created as a result of self-determination of the people of South Ossetia."

In 2001–11, the post of President of the Republic of South Ossetia was held by E. D. Kokoity. In 2004, when M.N.Saakashvili came to power in Georgia, who took a tough stance on the issue of ensuring the country's territorial integrity, the situation in the region became aggravated 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 the situation was not stabilized, and there were cases of non-compliance with the ceasefire regime. 7-10.8.2008 cargo. side attempted military. assault on the capital of the Republic of South Ossetia - Tskhinval. In response, Armed. The Russian forces carried out an operation to force Georgia to peace (ended on Aug. 12). On August 26, 2008, the President of the Russian Federation D. A. Medvedev signed a decree recognizing the independence of the Republic of South Ossetia. On September 17, 2008, an Agreement on Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance was signed between the Russian Federation and the Republic of South Ossetia, a growing up was created in the republic. military base.

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

According to the results of the presidential elections on April 9, 2017, A. I. Bibilov became the head of the republic (in 2014–17, the head of the RSO parliament). Following the results of the referendum held simultaneously with the elections, it was decided to change the name of the Republic of South Ossetia to "Republic of South Ossetia - State of Alania". It was announced that a referendum will be held in 2017 on the issue of the republic's joining the Russian Federation.

Farm

Yu. O. is an agrarian country with a low level of economic activity. development. The volume of GDP is 93.0 million dollars (2013, at purchasing power parity); per soul of us. $ 1,700 at the beginning. 21 c. for Yu. O., most enterprises are unprofitable (military conflicts and the actual blockade by Georgia led to a significant reduction in production volumes and the destruction of infrastructure), weak technical. equipment of industry and s. x-va, deterioration of DOS. funds, low avg. standard of living of the population. St. 80% prom. enterprises - in the state. property The income 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 industry (70% of the cost of production). In the beginning. 2010s operated by 15 prom. enterprises, the largest - a bakery, a cannery (processing local agricultural products, including the production of apple juice), a meat processing plant (near Tskhinval), Bagiatsky bottling plant (bottling mineral water; capacity 400 thousand . bottles per year; in the Dzau region).

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 the structure of s.-kh. lands (thousand hectares, 2011) of 84 pastures account for 64, arable land - 13 (cultivated about 3), hayfields - 7. Cultivated: cereals, ch. arr. wheat (collection 0.8 thousand tons, 2011) and barley (0.2 thousand tons), industrial 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 buildings in operation. organizations; housing construction (4.5 thousand m 2 in 2015) is carried out with the use of dew. financial assistance. The financial system is regulated by Nat. Bank of the Republic of Yuzh. Ossetia (Center. Bank, 1992), there are 4 commercial. bank (all - in Tskhinval).

Transport

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

International trade

The foreign trade balance is chronically deficit. The volume of foreign trade turnover (million dollars, 2015) 54.1, including exports 8.1, imports 46.0. Export (% of the value): clothing (86.6), ferrous metals (5.1), boilers and equipment (4.2), vegetables and fruits (2.2), etc. Import (% of the 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 from them (6.4), rubber, rubber and products 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. Institutions of science and culture

Management of educational institutions is carried out by the Ministry of Education and Science. Ch. regulatory document in the field of education - Law 2008 (changes 2016). The education system includes preschool education, primary, secondary, secondary vocational and higher education. There are 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) (2016). B. h. Educational institutions, as well as South Ossetia. state un-t them. A.A. Tibilova (1932, current status since 1993), Multidisciplinary College (2010), Republican nat. b-ka them. Anacharsis (leading history since the 1930s), Nat. museum (opened in 2015), South Osset. Research Institute named after Z. Vaneeva are in Tskhinval. The Museum of the Princes of the Ksan Eristavs is located in the village. Leningor.

Mass media

In Yu. O. published 3 printed republican state. newspapers (all - in Tskhinval): "South Ossetia" (founded in 1983 under the name "Soviet Ossetia", since 1993 independent publication; published 3 times a week in Russian and Ossetian languages, circulation 2.5– 3 thousand copies, 2017), "Khurzkhrin" ("Zarya", since 1924; repeatedly changed the name, modern name since 1993, into Osset language, 3 times a week, about 1.3 thousand copies ., 2017), "Respublika" (since 1995; modern name since 2005, weekly, 2.5 thousand copies, 2017). The State is functioning. TV and radio company "Ir" (in its structure - radio of the same name, information agency OSinform), founded in 1994, broadcasts in Russian. and osset. languages. As a state. network serves information. Res agency (founded in 1995).

Architecture and fine arts

The most ancient monuments of art on the territory of South Ossetia are ornamented ceramics (from the Neolithic), bronze, gold and silver items with relief and other decor, clay animal figurines Kuro-Arax culture and other cultures of the Bronze Age. Flourishing metallic. and ceramic. plastics associated with Koban culture, in the 7th and 6th centuries. BC NS. products appear in Scythian-Siberian beast style... Later, the influences of Iranian, ancient, Hellenistic are traced. lawsuit. Belt headsets of the 3rd century belong to the local tradition. BC NS. - 3 c. n. NS. with zoomorphic images, etc.

In the Middle Ages under the influence of the Byzantines. missionaries and architects. traditions of Alania and Georgia, cross-domed stone temples were built [Ksan Armazi (864), Nativity of the Virgin in Tigua (1152), Archangel Michael in Ikort (1172, close to the temple in Samtavisi)], a basilical temple of mon. Hopa (1st half of the 13th century), small churches in the villages of Tsirkol (Tsirkoli), Mosabrun (Mosabruni), Kaben (Kabeni), Inaur (Inauri), Uallag-Achabet (Zemo-Achabeti), etc. Fragments of frescoes have been preserved : in the Ksan Armazi (864), Ikort (late 12th - early 13th centuries), Tire Monastery. in with. Monaster (Monasteri; 14th century), mon. Madimayram (Khvtismshobeli) in the village. Tskhauat (Tskhavati; 14th century). Local constructions were also active. traditions (ruins of a palace in the village of Dzagina, 17th century). In the mountainous areas, watchtowers and battle towers, fortress dwellings, and sanctuaries were erected. For the settlements of the high-mountain belt, terrace-like compositions are characteristic, for the settlements of the mountain and foothill parts - the manor type of building. Nar. dwelling of the 18th – 19th centuries - a stone building with a flat roof and a faceted pyramidal top with a light-smoke hole.

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

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

Music

The basis of the muses. culture - the traditions of the Ossetians and other peoples. The first prof. composer and conductor, founder of the composer school Yu. O. - BA Galaev (1889–1974), author of music for performances in South Ossetia. dramatic. theater in Tskhinval, in 1938–51 the conductor of this theater. In 1931 he founded muses. school, in 1936 - South Osset. song and dance ensemble (since 1938 state), now the state. song and dance ensemble of the Republic of Yuzh. Ossetia "Simd" them. B.A. Galaeva (Tskhinval). Among the soloists of this ensemble in the 1950s – 1960s. - a well-known performer of Osset. bunk bed songs by G.N. Pliev. In Yu. O. worked: the composer and folklorist F. Sh. Alborov (1935-2005) - the author of the State. anthem Yu. O. (text by T. Kokayty; approved in 1995), founder of the Tskhinvali muses. school (1968; now named after F. Sh. Alborov); ZS Khabalova (1937–2016) - author of 19 symphonies and others. musicians originally from Yu.O. worked (are working) outside the republic, among them - composer and pianist Zh.V. Plieva (b. 1948), opera singers V. Dzhioeva (b. 1979), I. Gotoeva (b. 1979 ). There are mountains in Tskhinval. Choir and orchestra Nar. instruments "Aizald" (1996).

Theatre

First dramatic. circles appeared at the beginning. 20th century In 1931 in Tskhinvali began to work State. 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, H. Vaneev, D. Gabaraev, V. Gagloeva, L. Golovanova, I. Dzhigkaev, A. Dzhioev, R. Dzagoev, T. Dzudtsov, S. Kotaev , J. Kharebov, V. Khasiev, N. Chabieva, N. Chokheli, N. Chochieva.

Tskhinval is the capital of the Republic of South Ossetia, one of the oldest cities in the Caucasus, founded by King Asfagur in 262. Tskhinval is the heart of South Ossetia, its capital. He is in focus, collecting all the best and worthy of the Ossetian land. Tskhinvali is an administrative and cultural center, organizes the economic life of the republic. 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 Tskhinvali became a symbol of the struggle for independence and statehood.
Tskhinval today is the concentration of everything that builds and strengthens our Republic.
The historically developing city has numerous evidences of the past in archaeological monuments, in the types and appearance of religious buildings.
I. Gildenstedt Tskhinvali calls Krtskhinvali, Chreba, noting that this is a noble place. Tskhinvali is located in a beautiful foothill area in the Big Liakhvi gorge. From the north-east and from the north-west small picturesque mountains are closely adjacent to it.
At the dawn of its history, Tskhinvali was one of the main migration crossroads, through which both military troops and trade caravans came. A notable consequence of this was the diversity of the national composition of the population. In Tskhinvali there was a picturesque Jewish quarter, destroyed during the Georgian aggression, Armenian streets, etc. Since ancient times, our ancestors settled on both slopes of the main Caucasian ridge. Mostly they 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 mountainous. At the same time, the flat territories were necessarily strictly controlled by them and were also part of their world. Far away in their way of life at that time from leading a calm plain of life, they allowed various migration flows to settle here, organizing trade here, a primitive sedentary infrastructure, and built religious buildings. So, for example, in the 14th century, part of the migration flows from Asia and Europe of Armenians and Jews stopped exactly on the territory of South Ossetia, which became their Motherland, some earlier. Alans-Ossetians treated the new settlers peacefully, to new contacts, especially since their trade ties and skills played an important role in creating a common territorial-civil unit with a special polyethnic 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, the Ossetians gradually begin to move to the plain, to the city, which is gradually becoming 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 by this time far from the main routes of communication and economic ties.
To this must be added the political aspect related to Georgian influence and attitude. Georgia, with the hands of the Russian administration, was Georgianizing the city, seizing land, preventing the Ossetians from establishing a new way of life, etc. Nevertheless, Tskhinval more and more acquired a national identity, became a synthesizer and disseminator of Ossetian tradition, culture was felt in everything, penetrated everywhere, spread and enriched.
On December 5, 1917, residents of Tskhinvali sent a petition to the Commissioner of Internal Affairs. They asked to introduce city government. Most of the population of Tskhinvali was engaged in trade and crafts, the other - in viticulture and gardening.
Commercial and industrial enterprises operated here: a warehouse for agricultural implements, a warehouse for Singer sewing machines, 9 artisanal 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 and 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, in the ranks of various social and political movements, fought and sought a decision on the fate of South Ossetia.
On April 20, 1922, the South Ossetian Autonomous Region was formed with the center in Tskhinval. In 1934, Tskhinval was renamed Stalinir, its historical name was returned to it in 1961. With many positive trends in terms of the development of Tskhinvali, the ideological aspect seriously influenced the essence and depth of the ongoing processes of this period, not in a positive way. The development of Tskhinvali continued. Plants, factories, schools were built, and the first university, YOGPI, appeared. Tskhinvali is the most important road transport hub, the starting point for traffic along the Transcaucasian road(Tskhinval-Alagir). Despite the fact that Soviet Georgia also continued the policy of hidden and sometimes obvious denationalization, Tskhinvali remained the center of Ossetian spirituality and culture.
A new stage in history - the 90s, tragic and heroic. In 1989, the Georgian aggression against South Ossetia began and continues to this day. Tskhinval became the center of resistance. At the same time, it was during these years that the political role of Tskhinvali 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 Tskhinval, whose status is determined by constitutional law."
The city has its own Charter, which defines the structures and names of governing bodies, legal norms of activity, powers, economic and financial foundations, etc.
Tskhinvali 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 RSO State Flag. At the top of the coat of arms are depicted on the background rising sun three towers. The name of the city is formed from 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-stringed harp.
The Uatsamonga bowl represents hospitality, abundance, generosity. Below is the key of the city.
The Georgian aggression of 1989-1992, 2004, 2007 caused significant damage to the city. Every day we are reminded of the war by the ruins of the Jewish quarter, the houses that were shot through, and the gravestones in the notorious cemetery in the courtyard of School No. 5.
For the 10th anniversary of the RSO, a monument to the fallen defenders of the Fatherland was erected next to the temple 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 regional centers representing all federal districts of the Russian Federation and 8 CIS countries.
Tskhinvali was admitted to the ranks of the Assembly at the tenth session of the IAG 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 renews itself in conditions of constant provocations.
Tskhinval this year became the object of a 4-month water blockade, the economic blockade continues.
And, nevertheless, the ties of the South Ossetian capital with other cities are getting stronger and stronger.
Tskhinval became a member world organization"United cities".
The title of Honorary Citizen of the city was established. Honorary citizens of Tskhinvali are Vostrikov Aleksey Nikitich, Gioev Mikhail Ilyich, Merkuriev Aleksey Alekseevich and others.
The history of Tskhinval is complex and interesting. Tskhinval is the intertwining of many political interests, ideologies over the centuries.
Who is not trying to take away history from Tskhinval: from treacherous neighbors to migratory groups that found refuge here in their time. And those whose ancestors warmed with their eyes, revived with their steps, inspired their land with words of prayer, continue to live proudly, like native mountains, steadfastly and impatiently remind that the land of Ossetia is for peace, goodness and joy.

Republic of South Ossetia- a state on the southern slopes of the central part of the Greater Caucasus. The territory of South Ossetia is 3, 9 thousand km2, and the population according to the 1989 census is 99 thousand people. Ossetians make up about 68% of the population. official languages- Ossetian, Russian. Believers are predominantly Orthodox Christians, as well as Protestants and Jews.
The capital of South Ossetia is Tskhinval. The urban population is 51%. The Republic includes 4 districts - Dzhavsky, Tskhinvalsky, Znaursky, Leningorsky.

The head of state is the President.

Higher Legislature- Parliament.

The Constitution of the Republic of South Ossetia was adopted at a referendum on April 8, 2001.
Today, the Republic has been a de facto independent state for more than 13 years and is in the process of an unresolved conflict with Georgia. Since 1994, a negotiation process has been going on in a quadripartite format, where, along with the South Ossetian and Georgian sides, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) also participates.

Most of the territory of South Ossetia is occupied by mountains - spurs of the Main Caucasian Range, 90% of them are located at an absolute height of over 100 meters. The climate is temperate average temperature January from -20 to -70 C, August - +21 -240 C. In a year, it falls from 500 to 1000 mm. precipitation.
The territory of South Ossetia is exceptionally rich in ore (metallurgical) and non-metallic deposits, there are significant hydro resources (rivers, lakes, numerous mineral springs). The recreational potential is great, a significant part of the territory is covered with coniferous-deciduous forests. Depending on the vertical zoning, the type of soil cover changes, from chernozem and humus-calcareous soils of the foothill zone to mountain meadow soils of high mountains.
The industry of South Ossetia is represented by enterprises of mechanical engineering, woodworking, mining, building materials, light and food industries.
In agriculture, livestock, distant sheep breeding prevail, horticulture and viticulture are developed.

Ossetians are direct descendants of the Indo-European Scythian-Sarmatian-Alan tribes. The Indo-European language tradition in the Central Caucasus has existed for thousands of years and is now continued by its speakers.
The richest archaeological materials testify to the antiquity and duration of the residence of the Scythian tribes in the Central Caucasus. Written sources (Greek, Latin, Arabic, Old Armenian, Old Georgian) also confirm the presence of the Scythian-speaking ancestors of the Ossetians on the southern slopes of the Central Caucasus.

This fact, indisputable for researchers, is so obvious that it entered the textbooks of neighboring peoples. Thus, in the textbook “Benubis Kari” published in 1912 in the Georgian textbook, in the section “Neighboring peoples” it is stated: “The Ossetians are a mountain people. They occupy the central part of the Caucasian ridge from Khevsureti to Svaneti. Some of them live on the other side of the ridge, on the northern slopes. Others are on the southern slopes. Based on this, Ossetia is divided into North and South ”.
Ethnographic material and toponymy of the region speaks about the autochthonousness of Ossetians in South Ossetia. Most of the names in South Ossetia are of Ossetian origin. The existence of dialectical differences between the northern and southern dialects of the Ossetian language is also convincing of this. The archaisms of the Ossetian language prove that the southern branch of the Ossetian people was formed for many centuries precisely on the territory of South Ossetia and the areas of compact settlement of Ossetians adjacent to it from the south and east.
It should be noted that the territory of South Ossetia significantly exceeded the current borders. From antiquity to the accession to Russia, Ossetia was a single ethnic and political entity. The Ossetians themselves have never known the division into north and south. The names of their sub-ethnic formations go back to the gorges in which they lived, or to the dialects of the language.

Since the 17th century, with the increasing role of Russia in the Caucasus, the desire for a rapprochement of Christian peoples, in particular, Ossetians and Georgians, was clearly manifested. Various Ossetian societies have repeatedly appealed to Russia with a request to accept them under their protection. In 1749-1752. for this purpose in St. Petersburg there was an Ossetian embassy, ​​which consisted of noble people, and, first of all, people from the south.
After the victorious end of the Russian-Turkish war, in 1774, according to the Kuchuk-Kaynardzhi world, Ossetia became part of Russia.
In 1918, in conditions Civil War the people of South Ossetia declared that they would remain a part of Russia, while Georgia announced the creation of an independent state.

In response to this, the Georgian Democratic Republic, created in the same year, taking advantage of the difficult situation of that time, annexed the territory of South Ossetia for the first time. Tbilisi's attempt to establish its authority over South Ossetia was already regarded as an act of aggression.
In May 1920, the Labor Memorandum of South Ossetia stated:
1. South Ossetia is an integral part of North Ossetia.
2. South Ossetia is part of Soviet Russia on a common basis directly.
3. Direct entry into Soviet Russia through the Georgian or any other republic, even a Soviet one, is by no means permissible. The last point is notable for the fact that the conflict was not based on ideological differences, but a fundamental reason - the unwillingness to sever historical ties with Russia.
The agreement of May 7, 1920 between Russia and Georgia recognized for all peoples of the former Caucasian governorship the right to self-determination, up to the formation of an independent state.

During the Soviet Union, the Ossetian people were artificially divided into two parts. Since 1922, one part of the Ossetian people (South Ossetia), as an autonomous entity, was part of the Georgian SSR, and the other part (North Ossetia) was part of Russia.

Since 1988, a policy has been pursued in Georgia aimed at ensuring the priority of the Georgian nation in all spheres of social life - in politics, economics, demography, and the social sphere. Georgian national movement, which took a course to secede from the USSR and create nation state, actively and purposefully began to introduce into the minds of the people the ideas of exclusivity, "God's chosenness" of the Georgian nation, thoughts about the "indigenous" "non-indigenous" peoples, about "guests" and "occupiers". The land, its riches, water and even air were declared the property of only Georgians. The slogan "Georgia is for Georgians" began to be actively promoted, there were calls for the expulsion or Georgianization of non-Georgians, the elimination of autonomies, the withdrawal of Soviet "occupation" troops, and so on.

In the midst of the height of anti-Ossetian and anti-autonomous hysteria in Georgia, taking into account the legal insecurity of the autonomous region, the 12th Extraordinary Session of the Council of People's Deputies of the South Ossetian Autonomous Region on November 10, 1989. transformed the autonomous region into an autonomous republic within the Georgian SSR and applied to the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR with a request to consider this decision. However, the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the GSSR on November 16, 1989, not observing even the normative formalities, rejected this decision. Moreover, at the session of the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian SSR, a commission was created to study issues related to the status of the South Ossetian Autonomous Region, which in fact was a signal for the elimination of the autonomy of South Ossetia.This position of the official communist authorities of Georgia pushed the fascist leaders of informal parties and movements to more decisive steps and organizing a crusade to Tskhinvali with the aim of holding a so-called "peaceful" meeting.

On December 9, 1990, elections were held to the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of South Ossetia, and two days later the Georgian parliament, based on Gamsakhurdia's report, unanimously adopted a resolution on the abolition of the South Ossetian Autonomous Region. Immediately, provocations began, an economic, transport, information blockade, the destruction of infrastructures of the autonomous region. And yet the main trump card in the arsenal of the Gamsakhurdiyev authorities of Georgia remained the military-police force, mixed with criminality.
On January 6, 1991, at 4 a.m., in conspiracy with the leadership of the internal troops of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs located in Tskhinval, about six thousand Georgian police officers and criminals disguised as criminals released from Georgia's prisons entered and occupied most of Tskhinvali, occupied all the main objects life support. Thus began a large-scale military aggression against South Ossetia and the Ossetian people, which lasted more than a year and a half.
And only thanks to the firm position of the leadership and the peoples Russian Federation and North Ossetia, and in the face of the unprecedented resilience of the defenders of South Ossetia, Georgia was forced to end its aggression. Dagomys agreement and entry into South Ossetia peacekeeping forces meant the end of bloodshed and the establishment of relative calm and security in the long-suffering land of South Ossetia.
Since 1989, as a result of the Georgian aggression in South Ossetia, more than 800 people have died, about 1,700 have been injured, and more than 100 people have gone missing; over 100 Ossetian villages and villages, entire districts of Tskhinval and the village of Znaur were burned and destroyed. The economic damage amounted to more than 43 billion rubles (in 1992 prices). Many thousands of residents of South Ossetia, having lost their homes, became refugees. The war entered all the houses of South Ossetia, without examining the nationality of their owners.
History repeats itself. After the collapse of the Russian state in 1917, which Ossetia became a part of in 1774, Georgia tried to assert its power in South Ossetia. The people of South Ossetia then firmly declared their will to be with Russia. Then the Menshevik government of Georgia declared the Ossetian peasants enemies of Georgia and called on its troops to wipe South Ossetia off the face of the earth. In 1920. the first genocide of the Ossetian people was committed. More than 5 thousand people died, over 20 thousand people were forced to move to North Ossetia, where some of them died from epidemics, cold, hunger. Several dozen villages were burned down, the Ossetian households were ruined.
In 1920, only the Ossetians of South Ossetia were subjected to pogroms, in 1991-1992. - The "democrats" committed genocide not only to the people of South Ossetia, but also to the Ossetians throughout Georgia, where more than 100 thousand people lived. Thousands of Ossetians were subjected to sophisticated torture and were killed, about 80 thousand people were robbed and expelled from Georgia. And their only "fault" was that they were Ossetians.

INCLUSION OF OSSETIA TO RUSSIA IN 1774

The archive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia has preserved the Ossetian Affairs fund. It comprises thousands of pages covering the activities of the Ossetian embassy in the middle of the HIP century in Petrograd. Documents of the First and Second Ossetian Spiritual Commissions have also been preserved in the archives of St. Petersburg, Moscow, Astrakhan and Tbilisi. The seat of the first Ossetian spiritual commission was in Mozdok, and the second in Tbilisi. They belong to the period 1742 - 1861. In numerous historical documents, no one divides Ossetia into southern and northern parts. Everywhere they talk about a united Ossetia. There is no word "North Ossetia or South Ossetia" in these historical documents. They do not contain the words "North Ossetian spiritual commission or South Ossetian spiritual commission."

The fact that South Ossetia was not part of Georgia is confirmed by the documents of the Second Ossetian Spiritual Commission, the center of which was in Tbilisi and which was engaged in the spread of Christianity among all Ossetians. If South Ossetia were then part of Georgia, then the Orthodox Georgian Church would be engaged in the spread of Christianity.

The first Ossetian spiritual commission was organized in 1745 by the synod and the senate of Russia on the initiative of Georgian clergy who fled from Georgia in 1724. They traveled from Georgia to Russia only through the territory of Ossetia. Therefore, the Georgian statesmen and clergymen were interested in the Ossetians to accept the Christian faith and to become part of the Russian state. Then it would be easier for Georgians to go to Russia through Ossetia. The organization of the first Ossetian embassy in St. Petersburg was entrusted to the head of the First Ossetian spiritual commission, the Georgian archimandrite - Pakhomiy. He coped with this task and on September 25, 1749, with five Ossetian foremen left Ossetia for Petrograd.

One of the members of the embassy, ​​Elisey Lukich Khetagurov, was from the village of Nizhnee Zakka. At one time he studied in Tbilisi. I knew very well that his relatives the Khetagurovs, Kesaevs and Mamievs lived in the Narskaya depression, Tskhinval, in the present-day Znaurskiy, Tskhinvali and Khashurskiy districts. Sometimes I spent the night with them when I went to school in Tbilisi. In Petrograd, Elisey Khetagurov also defended the interests of the South Ossetians. The embassy included Jivi Abaev from the village of Sba, Dzhavsky region. The head of the Ossetian embassy, ​​Zurab Yelikhanov, also studied in Tbilisi. He accompanied the Georgian king Vakhtang VI to Russia. The normal work of the Ossetian ambassadors in Russia was hampered by the Georgian princes, who laid claim to the peasants of South Ossetia. But the Georgians themselves exposed them, and by the decision of the Senate, K. Makhatelov and I. Pristav deprived them of their princely titles for unreasonably opposing the Ossetian ambassadors. Bero, a member of the spiritual commission of Georgians, told the Russian authorities that Prince Kaykhosuro Makhatelov demanded from Pakhomiy that he proclaim him the chief foreman over the Ossetian people and give him a certificate of this. But Pakhomiy rejected Makhatelov's demands, telling him that without the knowledge of Russia, he was not entitled to resolve this issue.

Back in 1742, Georgian priests Joseph and Nikolai from Moscow in a petition informed Empress Elizaveta Petrovna that the Ossetians were a free people "as Turks and Persians, no one owns them." Here we are talking about Ossetia as a whole. South Ossetia was closer to Turkey and Iran. Nikolai and Joseph were educated people and knew well that the South Ossetians were independent from other countries. Since they were traveling in 1724 to Russia through Ossetia.

In December 1743, the Georgian abbot Christopher, in a report to the Foreign Affairs College, reported that Ossetia was under "the possession of the Georgian king, but in 1453, due to the strengthening of Turkey and Persia, Georgia lost its independence, and the Ossetians have remained free from that time." ...

Before the organization of the First Ossetian Spiritual Commission and the Ossetian Embassy in the forties of the XCh111 century, the Russian government finally found out with the help of Georgians, Kabardians and its people that Ossetia was not part of or under the protectorate of other countries. On this issue, the head of the collegium of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bestuzhev-Ryumin, on January 9, 1748, in his report on political independence, the Ossetians told the Russian government: “The Ossetian people ... Caucasus mountains between the two Kabards in the border with Georgia he lives, he is free and does not belong to anyone ... " with the Ottoman Porto and Persia, the peaceful treatises are not mentioned.

In June 1750, the head of the Ossetian spiritual commission of Georgians Pakhomiy in Petrograd reported to the Russian authorities that "the Ossetians are not subject to the Georgian princes, since the latter are themselves dependent on Persia and Turkey." The Ossetian embassy in Petrograd included a representative of South Ossetia, Jivi Abaev, from the village of Sba, Dzhavsky district. In December 1751, the Ossetian ambassadors were received by Empress Elizaveta Petrovna. The ambassadors asked for the annexation of Ossetia to Russia, permission for Ossetians to move to the low-lying regions of the North Caucasus and duty-free trade with Russian cities. The last two questions were resolved positively. The Russian government refrained from resolving the first issue, fearing to complicate its relations with Turkey and Iran.

The Senate meeting told the Ossetian ambassadors that they should try "to persuade other Ossetians to the Russian side and accept holy baptism."

In 1769 Russian troops arrived in Tskhinval. Here General Totleben met with the kings of Georgia Irakli, 11 and Solomon. They agreed on joint actions against the Turks. Many soldiers from South Ossetia took part in this war on the side of Russians and Georgians. The Ossetians rendered great assistance to the Russian troops when crossing the Cross Pass. In 1770, the Ossetians again turned to the Russian government with a request to annex them to Russia. Then Russia set up a military guard in the Daryal Gorge in the Ossetian village of Tsmi. Thus, the Tagaur society became part of Russia.

On June 3, 1774, Turkish troops were defeated near Mozdok. A peace treaty was signed between Turkey and Russia in the village of Kucuk-Kainardzhi. According to this agreement, Ossetia and Kabarda became part of Russia. Bolatko Khetagurov from Tskhinvali was killed in this war.

In 1774, the Russian government instructed the governor of Astrakhan, P.N.Krechetnikov, to go to Mozdok and receive the envoys of Ossetia. This year P. N. Krechetnikov received Ossetian delegations from all societies in Mozdok. They all asked the governor to accept them into the Russian state. Ossetians transferred their mining wealth to Russia.

In the spring of 1775, PN Krechetnikov in Petrograd to Catherine II reported that with the annexation of Ossetia to Russia "the glory of Your Imperial Majesty will take place throughout that country and will lure quite a lot of peoples and spread the borders."