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South Ossetia

South Ossetia is a breakaway republic in the Caucasus. It declared independence from Georgia in 1991 but has received only limited international recognition.

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All Content on this topic

A green border sign in front of barbed wire

Russia-backed borders in Georgia condemned by rights court

Europe's top rights court has said Russia helped set up borders separating Georgia from pro-Moscow separatist enclaves.
ConflictsApril 9, 2024
Historic buildings in the city of Tbilisi with a large temple on top of a rock.

Georgia: Popular with Russians, despite political tensions

The country remains popular with Russians today, despite complicated Russo-Georgian relations and the war in Ukraine.
TravelSeptember 21, 2022
A view of the South Ossetian national flag over the city of Tskhinval

South Ossetia shelves plan for referendum to join Russia

The leader of South Ossetia, the breakaway region of Georgia, has scrapped plans to hold a referendum on joining Russia.
PoliticsMay 31, 2022
Flag of South Ossetia overlooking Tskhinval

Georgia: South Ossetia calls for referendum to join Russia

South Ossetia's self-proclaimed government said it was time for the region to "unite once and for all" with Russia.
ConflictsMay 13, 2022
Georgien | Kaukasus-Konflikt | russische Armee in Zchinwali

ECHR rules on abuses in Ossetia, Abkhazia, Maidan

Fourteen and six years after "state" abuses, Russia and Ukraine have been panned by the European Human Rights Court.
PoliticsJanuary 22, 2021
DW's Zhanna Nemtsova in conversation with Georgian presidential candidate Salome Zurabishvili

Georgia can't 'go it alone' with Russia

Presidential frontrunner Salome Zurabishvili told DW why domestic and international coooperation are key for the future.
PoliticsOctober 31, 2018
A woman sitting outside her home in Georgia

Georgia's frozen conflict still hangs over locals

Fencing, patrols and uncertainty are a familiar strain for villagers 10 years after the war between Russia and Georgia.
PoliticsAugust 8, 2018
Former Abkhazian government building

Syria recognizes Georgia's breakaway regions

Syria is now one of five countries that have recognized the Moscow-backed regions.
PoliticsMay 30, 2018
Frau an der Grenze zwischen Russland und Georgien

Georgia's shifting border

Residents of the Georgian village of Khurvaleti live in constant fear of Russian incursions.
SocietyNovember 16, 201704:05 min
Georgi Margwelaschwili - Präsidentschaftswahlen in Georgien

Looking west doesn't mean harming Russia

Georgian President Margvelashvili told DW how his country deals with its nuclear-armed neightbor the the north.
PoliticsNovember 2, 2017
Georgien Tbilisi - Papst Franziskus und der Orthodoxe Patriach Ilia II

Pope arrives in ex-Soviet Georgia

Pope Francis has begun a visit to Georgia by calling for peace, while trying not to get embroiled in a regional dispute.
ReligionSeptember 30, 2016
Russland Raul Chadschimba in Sotschi

Abkhazia leader calls for calm after riots

Government opponents have put Abkhazia on the brink of "chaos and degradation," said the leader of the disputed region.
July 6, 2016
Russland Südossetien Tibilow bei Putin

Russia signs South Ossetia deal

Vladimir Putin has signed a treaty with a Georgian breakaway region.
March 18, 2015
A woman and her daughter stand in front of a demonstration poster (Foto: Ints Kalnins/REUTERS)

Russia's blueprint

For Baltic states, Russia's Crimean policy is a reminder of not-distant-enough history.
March 11, 2014
Ukrainian servicemen at the Pokryshkin airbase at Belbek in Sevastopol, Crimea. (Photo: ITAR-TASS / Stanislav Krasilnikov)

Applying history in Crimea

Comparing Crimea to the Caucasus is over-simplified, but could help policy makers understand Russia.
March 8, 2014
Jose Manuel Barroso and Mikheil Saakaschvili in Brussels (Photo: REUTERS/Francois Lenoir)

Georgia warned on rule of law

The EU has cautioned Georgia against applying selective justice during a visit to Brussels by President Mikheil Saakashvili. Speculation has arisen that Tbilisi may bring charges against the leader when he leaves office.
October 29, 2013
Bildtitel: Das Bild von Stalin in Museum von der sowjetischen Besetzung, Tbilisi, Georgien Schlagworte: Georgien, Stalin, Umfrage lle Bilder hat unsere Korrespondentin in Georgien Amalia Oganjanyan für die Veröffentlichung bei der Deutsche Welle gemacht. Thema: "Umfrage: Was denken Menschen in Georgien an Stalin?"

The Stalin myth

The row over the Stalin monument in Gori shows Georgia's contradictory attitude to the man of steel.
August 8, 2013
Grenze zwischen Georgien und Südossetien (Foto: DW)

Georgian villages five years after the war

The traces of Georgia's war with Russia remain impossible to miss five years after the conflict.
August 8, 201310 images
Bildergalerie Grenze zwischen Georgien und Südossetien Schlagworte: Georgien, Russland, Krieg, Südossetien, Grenze, Flüchtlinge Zulieferer: Sergey Gushcha 05 - Siedlung Schawschwebi gebaut für georgische Flüchtlinge, die ihre Häuser durch den russisch-georgischen Krieg verloren haben. Autor: Amalia Oganjanyan, DW-Korrespondentin in Tbilissi, 30.07.2013.

Displaced Georgians

The people who were displaced during Georgia's war with Russia in 2008 still hope to return home.
August 7, 2013
Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili

'It's about restoring justice'

The Georgian Prime Minister says he's not used the courts to undermine opposition.
July 2, 2013
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili speaks at a campaign rally for his United National Movement in Tbilisi, Georgia (AP Photo/Shakh Aivazov)

Close vote

In a dirty election campaign, government and opposition in Georgia are fighting for voters.
October 1, 2012
Leonid Tibilov gets in his car by a polling station

Ex-KGB wins in South Ossetia

The breakaway Georgian province of South Ossetia has held a presidential run-off election, picking a former KGB chief who is supported by Russia. The election was rejected by Georgia as illegitimate.
April 9, 2012
Alla Dzhioyeva

Disputed election

A South Ossetian presidential candidate declares victory in defiance of the courts.
November 30, 2011
A man votes in a South Ossetian election

No majority

Kremlin's candidate faces an election run-off in South Ossetia, a breakaway republic of Georgia.
November 14, 2011
Georgian President Saakashvili and Russian President Medvedev

Home stretch

Russia and Georgia reach a compromise that would clear the way for Russian WTO membership.
November 3, 2011
S-300 missiles

Rising tensions

Russia says it has deployed air defense missiles in the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia.
August 12, 2010
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev

Russia-Georgia ties

Russia's president vows to strengthen ties with breakaway Georgian region Abkhazia.
August 9, 2010
Russian soldiers at a checkpoint

Border reopened

Georgia and Russia have reopened their border for the first time since 2006.
March 1, 2010
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev

Sole responsibility

The Russian president's push for control of foreign troop deployments causes concern in neighbors.
December 11, 2009
South Ossetian separatist fighters wave a Kalashnikov in Tskhinvali

South Ossetia war

A new report finds both Russia and Georgia broke international law during their 2008 conflict.
September 30, 2009
South Ossetian separatist fighters fire Kalashnikovs and wave their white-yellow-red flag while riding in a car

Caucasus independence

A year after Russian recognition of separatist Caucasus regions, independence is no closer.
August 26, 2009
Members of an EU observer mission arrive at the airport in Tbilisi, Georgia

EU in Georgia

Russia has praised EU monitors in Georgia but ruled out any American participation.
August 5, 2009
Russian soldiers on the way to Georgia last August

Caucasus tensions

The EU calls for cool heads to prevail as tensions rise between Russia and Georgia.
August 4, 2009
Russian troops and tanks rolling down a street towards Georgia

Caucasus conflict

Tensions have flared between Georgia and Russia a week before the first anniversary of the war.
August 1, 2009
South Ossetian separatist fighters

Georgia mission expires

With the end of the UN and OSCE missions in Georgia, the EU has been left to pick up the pieces.
June 29, 2009
NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer

NATO and Russia

After nearly a year of silence the Russia-NATO Council has re-convened, but differences persist.
June 28, 2009
Map of Georgia, the breakaway region of South Ossetia, and surrounding countries

South Ossetia polls

A pro-Moscow party has won controversial elections in the breakaway Georgian region.
June 1, 2009
Russian troops ride atop armored vehicles

Russian walkout

The European Union is hopeful talks aimed at bringing peace to the Caucasus can be salvaged.
May 19, 2009
NATO member flags fly under a large NATO banner

No hidden agenda

NATO says the war games it is involved with in Georgia this month have no alterior motive.
May 5, 2009
Youth fractions of opposition parties protest at Tbilisi's Freedom square on Wednesday, April 8, 2009.

National disobedience

Georgia's opposition launches a "national disobedience campaign" as Saakashvili stands firm.
April 10, 2009
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili

Georgian protests

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili faces a strong challenge from rivals wanting to unseat him.
April 9, 2009
The European Court of Human Rights

Final Arbiter

Once called the crown jewel of European justice, the European Court of Human Rights is turning 50.
February 23, 2009
Russian troops ride atop armored vehicles and trucks near the village of Khurcha in Georgia's breakaway province of Abkhazia

Close But No Cigar

The OSCE security summit ended without a joint declaration but its head still called it a success.
December 5, 2008
Saakashvili with a Georgian and EU flag behind him

Tough on Russia

Georgia's president has asked Europe not to make too many concessions in negotiations with Russia.
November 30, 2008
Giorgi Bokeria, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, addresses journalists during a press conference after the second round of the Caucasus talks to try to settle the Russia-Georgia conflict at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland

Constructive Discussions

Georgia and Russia hold constructive post-conflict talks in Geneva and agree to meet again.
November 19, 2008
Russian soldiers with a Russian flag sit atop a tank

Peacekeepers Wanted

Georgia is expected to request an international peacekeeping force in its breakaway regions.
November 19, 2008
A man sits outside a tent in a refugee camp in Gori, Georgia

EU Selects Swiss Diplomat to Investigate Caucasus Conflict

The European Union's foreign ministers have called on a seasoned Swiss diplomat to investigate the military conflict between Russia and Georgia in August.
November 11, 2008
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev

Moscow's Response

Russia's president lashes out at the US and says he'll deploy missiles near Poland.
November 6, 2008
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili

Debate on Russia Stance

Eastern European leaders meet in Latvia to debate their various opinions on dealing with Russia.
November 1, 2008
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, right, greets Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili at EU headquarters in Brussels

Calls for Closer Ties

Spain calls for closer EU-Georgia ties as South Ossetia accuses Georgian troops of aggression.
October 18, 2008