South Ossetia - Ossezia del Sud

South Ossetia
Location
Coat of arms and flag
Capital	Tskhinvali
Government	Republic
Currency	Russian ruble (RUB)
Surface	3,900 km²
Inhabitants	55.000 (2012)
Tongue	Ossetian is Russian
Religion	Orthodox Christianity (61%)
Prefix	995 (Georgia)
TLD	.ge (Georgia)
Time zone	UTC 3
Website	Ministry of Foreign Affairs

L'South Ossetia (Республикӕ Хуссар Ирыстон - Паддзахад Аллонстон / Respublikæ Xussar Iryston - Paddzaxad Allonston, Georgian: სამხრეთ ოსეთი / Samkhret Oseti, Russian: Республика Южная Осетия - Государство Алания / Respublika Yuzhnaya Osetiya - Gosudarstvo Alaniya ) is a state of the Caucasus partially recognized by the international community.

To know

Geographical notes

Being in the middle of the Caucasus, the nation has a predominantly mountainous territory rich in torrential streams. The land is mainly covered by forests and pastures that allow a vast sheep breeding; however there is no shortage of agriculture, especially of cereals and vines.

Background

The country has been de facto independent since 1991, however the UN, the European Union, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the United States and NATO recognize South Ossetia as an integral part of the Georgia. Although two referendums were held, one in 1991 and one in 2006, which demonstrated the desire of the Ossetians to become independent from Georgia, only a few de facto nations recognize it. Among these, in chronological order, the Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru, Tuvalu is Syria, plus a number of self-declared independent nations. Despite the relative peace between Georgia and South Ossetia, the Russo-Georgian War of 2008 changed the social situation of the nation, especially since the Republic of South Ossetia entered into an alliance with Russia, and is not the possibility of reunification with North Ossetia-Alania, currently an autonomous republic within the Russian Federation.

Spoken languages

Ossetian dancers at an international event with the Transnistria

In the nation, theOssetian and the Russian, but many understand and know the language Georgian. However, most Ossetians refuse to speak Georgian and locals may turn out to be hostile to visitors if they speak Georgian. This hostility arises due to the conflict between the two Caucasian nations, and if you are unable to speak Ossetian, the most useful language would be Russian, since English or other languages ​​are practically non-existent.

Culture and traditions

South Ossetia is full of national symbols and crests of which it is extremely proud. The flag is a tricolor with horizontal bands of white, red and yellow and is practically identical to that of theNorth Ossetia-Alania, the only difference is the width of the bands. The flag has been official since November 26, 1990 thanks to an article of the Ossetian Constitution, reconfirmed by the Regulations on the National Flag on March 30, 1992. The colors symbolize: courage (red), moral purity (white), and wealth and prosperity ( yellow).

South Ossetia postage stamp

Suggested readings

• Discordant Neighbors: A Reassessment of the Georgian-Abkhazian and Georgian-South Ossetian Conflicts, a 2013 book by B. George Hewitt which tells the story of the breakaway wars in Georgia.
• Understanding Ethnopolitical Conflict: Karabakh, South Ossetia, and Abkhazia Wars Reconsidered, 2013 essay by Emil Souleimanov, writer Czech born in Yerevan.

Territories and tourist destinations

      Dzau Province - Province on the border with Russia where there is the only access to the nation, namely the "Roki tunnel". There are also the Transcaucasian highway, the Ossetian Military Road and Lake Ertso. The largest city is Java.

      Zanur province —  

      Tskhinvali province - Most visited district given the presence of the capital which is the most populous settlement in the nation

      Leningor Province - Originally called Akhalgori Municipality. Before 2008, its ethnic composition was 70% Georgian, but due to the war this has been reduced by 90%.

Urban centers

How to get

Sign in English and Georgian placed on the border with South Ossetia warning not to cross the border

It is not possible to reach South Ossetia via the Georgia, as the road between Ergneti is Tskhinvali it is heavily guarded from the Georgian side, however, it is possible to get very close to the demarcation line and observe Tskhinvali a few kilometers away. It is not uncommon to find Georgians who have come up to Ergneti to try to take a look at South Ossetia, using your own binoculars or spotting scopes. This is possible and accepted by the surveillance as long as no one present films the prepared military equipment or any soldier present there.

The armed forces say the only way to go to Tskhinvali is to go through Vladikavkaz, in North Ossetia-Alania. It is in this city that most, if not all, of the tour operators organize expeditions and trips to South Ossetia.

• Kavkaz Explorers, ☎ 7-4996539019. 1150$-4000$. All the year. It offers about 5 organized itineraries starting from Russia, with durations ranging from 2 to 11 days. Given the little interest in the country on the part of tourists, the itineraries are variable and customizable. The possible standard options are:

1. Tour in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, held in June and lasting 11 days. The cost is $ 3050 per person and includes museums, hotels, means of transport excluding the flight from Moscow to Vladikavkaz, meals, an English-speaking guide and a permit to enter South Ossetia.
2. Horseback riding in South Ossetia and in North Ossetia-Alania, available in July and lasting 10 days. The cost is $ 2300 per person and includes meals, alcoholic beverages, hotels, cottages, transportation, horses included and excluding the flight from Moscow to Vladikavkaz, English speaking guide, museum tickets and South Ossetia entry permit.
3. Private stay for two, available all year round for $ 1500 for a single person, or $ 1025 for two. Meals, accommodation in a local house, transportation by car from Vladikavkaz are included, but not the flight from Moscow to Vladikavkaz, English-speaking guide, tickets to the Natural History Museum of South Ossetia and a permit to enter South Ossetia. Return to Russia is usually late at night.
4. 6-day stay in South Ossetia, available all year round and with variable cost based on the number of participants. $ 3070 for single visitor up to $ 1490 per person for groups of 4 travelers. The price includes admissions to museums, accommodation, means of transport excluding the flight from Moscow to Vladikavkaz, meals, an English-speaking guide and a permit to enter South Ossetia.
5. Caucasus tour centrae, an itinerary available from April to lasting 9 days, hosted by woodcutters from the mountainous area. The trip, costing $ 2350 per person for groups of 7 people ($ 4000 for couples of travelers), takes place both in Russia than on the Ossetian side. The price includes museum admissions, 3 meals a day, local and English-speaking guides, this 24-hour attendance, reasonable amounts of alcohol, excesses must be paid for, and the South Ossetian entry permit. The tour starts from Mineralnye-Vody airport and ends at Grozny airport. 

Entry requirements

A permit is required to enter South Ossetia and to travel to the country from Russia, you can send your request to the South Ossetian embassy at Moscow, sending all the necessary documents.

• 55.74144537.5973711 Embassy of the Republic of South Ossetia, Kursovoy Pereulok, 9, Moscow, Russia, 119034, ☎ 7 4956442757. 

However, a late 2012 agreement promised to establish a South Ossetian consular agency a Vladikavkaz, but currently the consulate is not active, and its representatives are located at "AMF, 38 Prospekt Mira". Despite the presence of the known, it is advisable to rely on affiliated tour operators so as not to have to worry about carrying out the procedure for obtain the entry permit.

By plane

To learn more, see: Airports in Georgia.

To learn more, see: Airports in Russia.

South Ossetia has no airports. The closest are found in North Ossetia-Alania, and I'm:

• 43.20467144.6098822 Vladikavkaz airport (It is located 15km north of thehomonymous town), ☎ 7 8672505029, @[email protected]. The airport only has connections with the city of Moscow. This is why it is advisable to first reach this airport and then reach South Ossetia by bus. 
• 42.79446944.7605853 Vertoletnaya Ploshchadka Airport, Ingushetia, Russia, 386435. Despite being closer to the border with the country, it is not a large airport and therefore is not recommended as a stopover. In any case, after reaching the airport, to enter South Ossetia, it is necessary to use scheduled buses. 

By car

Starting from the city of Vladikavkaz it is possible to reach South Ossetia via the P270 road towards Tskinvali-Gufta-Java-Roki. After an hour and forty travel we reach the "Roki Tunnel", a tunnel a couple of kilometers long which marks the border with the Georgia. You will most likely find Russian authorities there, but they are usually willing to let visitors, including journalists, pass through. In any case, to avoid problems, it is advisable to rely on local tour operators, able to communicate and negotiate efficiently with the locals.Once you exit the tunnel you are officially in South Ossetia, and you can reach Tskhinvali in a scarce hour of travel. The highway also has a great naturalistic value since it passes many cities of Ossetia before reaching the capital, also skirting the entire course of the Liakhvi River. Vladikavkaz to Tskhinvali.

Another possibility is to enter Ossetia via the European road E60 which connects the city of Georgia to Georgia Akhalgori. The highway has exits at Tbilisi it's at Sukhumi, so visitors in Georgia or in Abkhazia they can get there with relative ease, however it is not a very recommended solution due to the blockade imposed after the Russo-Georgian conflict.

Signs in Georgian and Latin on the E50 motorway on the way from Tbilisi to Gori

By bus

There are buses from Vladikavkaz that go from South Ossetia to the capital Tskhinvali that pass through the Roki tunnel. It is advisable to rely on local tour operators, able to communicate and negotiate efficiently with the locals.

How to get around

By plane

There are no airports in South Ossetia.

By car

There aren't many highways in South Ossetia, but major cities and other settlements are interconnected. From Tskhinvali 4 different roads branch off.

• The largest of these is the P270 Tskinvali-Gufta-Java-Roki highway, the same that is used to reach the city and which allows you to reach the town of Didi Gupta from which it branches in two directions.
  • Taking the one on the right you can reach it Java and get to the "Roki Tunnel".
  • Taking the one on the left you can reach the city of Kvaisi until you reach the western border with the Georgia, obviously closed and not recommended to visit.
• The so-called "Strada di Dzari" allows you to reach the village of the same name and then rejoin the P270 motorway;
• Another road, written in Georgian "ცხინვალი-ახალგორი", allows you to reach Akhalgori in just over an hour of travel. From Akhalgori it is then possible to reach various northern locations in the province of Leningor, but, being these on the northern border with Georgia, it is then necessary to retrace one's steps and reach again Tskhinvali;
• Another road that allows you to reach Java branches off from the city of Prisi, passing through many small villages avoiding the motorway, recommended for those who do not like heavy vehicular traffic and prefer a more direct approach to Ossetian culture and environment.

The south-western and northern areas are the least connected, there are only a few villages and small settlements, especially in the mountainous areas bordering Russia. The nation has a large amount of dirt roads, but the villages that connect are not very relevant for tourism.

What see

Ruins of a statue of Lenin and Stalin called "Friends" located at Akhalgori

View of the Ksani river and valley in the southernmost part of the Leningor province

• THE commemorative monuments of the war and the statues which are found in various locations in South Ossetia;
• THE Rivers of Ossetia, among which are:
  • The great Liakhvi, which runs along the highway from tunne Roki to Tskhinvali
  • Chanchakhi River
  • Jejora River
  • Ksani River
  • Little Liakhvi
  • Lehkura River

Memorial cross to the fallen. It is located in a small village above Java

Bridge over the river Patsa in the Dzau region close to the highway

Itineraries

• Car travel along the major roads of Ossetia, so as to be able to visit the most populated settlements, enjoying the often unspoiled nature of the region and the various rivers that often line the roads;

What to do

Currency and purchases

The national currency is the Russian ruble (RUB) Here are the links to know the current exchange rate with the main world currencies:

At the table

Ossetian cuisine is mainly Caucasian similar but significantly different from Georgian, presenting some similarities with that ofNorth Ossetia-Alania. Some typical dishes are:

• There Chakhragina Ossetian: Similar to Georgian khachapuri, it is a mixture of boiled potatoes, cheese and beetroot leaves folded between two layers of dough. Locals love this variety of khachapuri because the cheese is creamier than what is found in the other versions, which are also less salty.
• The Fydzhin: A pie filled with minced beef, veal, pork or a mix of these meats and baked in the oven.
• A chicken soup with sour cream.

Tourist infrastructure

Events and parties

National holidays

Safety

Although South Ossetia is no longer as dangerous as it once was, it remains a country that is not easy to visit due to the absence of standardized bureaucratic formalities useful for entry. However, if you are able to obtain the visiting permit, you can go there without problems.Since the country is not recognized by the European Union, in case of arrest or legal complications within the country, it could be extremely difficult if It is not impossible to receive aid from Italy, as diplomatic missions and international relations are absent, so it is strongly advised to maintain a behavior aimed at avoiding any type of legal problem.

It is necessary to have a double visa for the Russia given the inability to exit via the Georgia.

Health situation

The war caused untold damage to the health system, causing it to collapse. The availability and professionalism of healthcare personnel is not always guaranteed. It is strongly recommended to bring a first aid kit with you and to buy bottled water, as tap water is not always drinkable.

Respect the customs

Ossetians can be very nervous about travelers photographing anything, and they can get to block and stop them from their obsessive photographic activity. Similarly, administrative officials may come to believe that by taking lots of photos, visitors are trying to spy on their country. Obviously, the conflict with Georgia is almost taboo and travelers are strongly discouraged from giving their own political views on it. The best idea is to listen to the ideals of the locals and be understanding in their eyes to avoid any problems whatsoever.

How to keep in touch

Telephony

The Russian company Megafon allows you to make international calls between South Ossetia andNorth Ossetia-Alania without price increases.

Internet

Since the declaration of independence, the nation had been cut off from the world, but as of 2007 South Ossetia terminated contracts with Georgian companies and entered into various negotiations with Russian broadcasters such as "OsTelekeom", in order to obtain national internet coverage. The Russian company was found to be cheaper than the Georgian ones. As Georgia is not in European Roaming, the use of mobile data is subject to a fee.

Other projects

• Wikipedia contains an entry concerning South Ossetia
• Commons contains images or other files on South Ossetia
• Wikinews contains current news on South Ossetia
  

States of Asia

 Afghanistan ·  Saudi Arabia ·  Bahrain ·  Bangladesh ·  Bhutan ·  Burma ·  Brunei ·  Cambodia ·  China ·  North Korea ·  South Korea ·  United Arab Emirates ·  Philippines ·  Japan ·  Jordan ·  India ·  Indonesia ·  Iran ·  Iraq ·  Israel ·  Kyrgyzstan ·  Kuwait ·  Laos ·  Lebanon ·  Maldives ·  Malaysia ·  Mongolia ·  Nepal ·  Oman ·  Pakistan ·  Qatar ·  Singapore ·  Syria ·  Sri Lanka ·  Tajikistan ·  Thailand ·  East Timor ·  Turkmenistan ·  Uzbekistan ·  Vietnam ·  Yemen

States with limited recognition:  State of Palestine ·  Taiwan

Only physically Asian states^[1]:  Armenia ·  Azerbaijan^[2] ·  Cyprus ·  Georgia^[2] ·  Kazakhstan ·  Russia ·  Turkey

States de facto independent:  Abkhazia^[2] ·  Artsakh ·  Northern Cyprus ·  South Ossetia^[2]

Addictions Australian:  Cocos and Keeling Islands ·  Christmas Island

Addictions British: UKAkrotiri and Dhekelia^[3] · British Indian Ocean Territory

Partially Asian states:  Egypt (Sinai) ·  Greece (North Aegean Islands, Dodecanese) ·  Russia (Asian Russia)  Turkey (Asian Turkey)

1. ↑States generally considered to be European from an anthropic point of view
2. ↑ ^2,02,12,22,3It was considered physically wholly Asian only by some geographical conventions
3. ↑Physically Asian state or dependency but generally considered European from an anthropic point of view

States of Europe

 Albania ·  Andorra ·  Armenia^[1] ·  Austria ·  Azerbaijan^[2] ·  Belgium ·  Belarus ·  Bosnia and Herzegovina ·  Bulgaria ·  Cyprus^[1] ·  Vatican CITY ·  Croatia ·  Denmark ·  Estonia ·  Finland ·  France ·  Georgia^[2] ·  Germany ·  Greece ·  Ireland ·  Iceland ·  Italy ·  Latvia ·  Liechtenstein ·  Lithuania ·  Luxembourg ·  North Macedonia ·  Malta ·  Moldova ·  Principality of Monaco ·  Montenegro ·  Norway ·  Netherlands ·  Poland ·  Portugal ·  UK ·  Czech Republic ·  Romania ·  Russia^[3] ·  San Marino ·  Serbia ·  Slovakia ·  Slovenia ·  Spain ·  Sweden ·  Switzerland ·  Ukraine ·  Hungary

States de facto independent:  Abkhazia^[2] ·  Artsakh^[1] ·  Northern Cyprus^[1] · Donetsk ·  Kosovo · Lugansk ·  South Ossetia^[2] ·  Transnistria

Addictions Danes:  Faroe Islands

Addictions British: UKAkrotiri and Dhekelia^[1] ·  Gibraltar ·  Guernsey ·  Jersey ·  Isle of Man

Marginally European states:  Kazakhstan^[3] (Atyrau, Western Kazakhstan) ·  Turkey^[3] (Eastern Thrace)

1. ↑ ^{1,01,11,21,31,4}Physically Asian state or dependency but generally considered European from an anthropic point of view
2. ↑ ^2,02,12,22,3State with territory wholly or partially in Asia according to the different geographical conventions
3. ↑ ^3,03,13,2State with most of its territory in Asia