Ossetia

Map of North and South Ossetia

Ossetia (Georgian: ოსეთის ; Ossetic: Ирыстон (Iryston); Russian: Осетия, (Osetiya)) is a region in the northern Caucasus Mountains, inhabited by the Ossetians, an Iranian people who speak the Ossetic language, (an Indo-Iranian language). Its territory currently straddles the political divide between North Ossetia-Alania in Russia, and South Ossetia in Georgia. The Ossetians consider themselves to be a separate ethnic group from either the Georgians or the Russians.

In 1989, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, South Ossetia declared itself united with North Ossetia. Georgia disagreed, claiming that South Ossetia was an integral part of Georgia, and a conflict war ensued. The Abkhaz forced were strongly supported by Russia. Russia acted as war sponsor country. 100,000 or more South Ossetians, more than half the pre-war population, either fled North to North Ossetia or to Tbilisi and other parts of Georgia (proper). South Ossetia, with the backing of Russia and North Ossetia, fought to a stand-off. South Ossetia is now considered a part of Georgia, but large parts of the region (including the capital of Tskhinvali) are politically independent. Minor fighting has continued to the present day, with accusations of war crimes coming from both sides. The United States has for the most part allied with Georgia in the dispute, and Russia has generally allied with the de-facto South Ossetian government.