Q&A: the South Ossetia conflict
Updated on 11 August 2008
Why are Georgia and Russia fighting over South Ossetia? Read on to find out.
Why is there fighting in South Ossetia?
South Ossetia has had a troubled past, with its calls for independence dating back to the Russian Revolution. Yet, when Georgia was granted its independence from the USSR, it took South Ossetia with it.
Shortly after Georgia's independence was declared in 1991, violence broke out in the region. Around 1,000 people died, and 100,000 ethnic Ossetians fled, mostly across the border with Russia into North Ossetia.
Fighting continued until 1992, when the new Georgian President accepted Russian peacekeepers to monitor a ceasefire.
The region, along with Georgia's other breakaway region of Abkhazia, has had de facto independence since 1992, but this has never been recognised by the Georgian central administration or by any other country.
Who are the South Ossetian people?
Ossetian and Georgian ethnic groups have co-existed relatively peacefully since then, but there are still marked differences, even in the language they speak.
South Ossetia in Georgia shares a border with North Ossetia in Russia, as the two halves were divided following the Russian Revolution. However, recently many South Ossetians took up the offer to hold Russian passports.
What are the Georgian aims?
Georgian President, Mikhail Saakashvili, has set his sights on bringing the two breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia back under Georgian control, and tensions have risen since his election in 2004.
In 2006 another referendum on autonomy was held in the region, after South Ossetia failed to get recognition for the results of their first referendum back in 1992.
However, despite 99 per cent of those who voted choosing independence, and 34 monitors from several different countries observing proceedings, it has still failed to gain recognition abroad.
What role did Russia play?
Russia argues that it has always maintained its peacekeeping role in the region, despite accusations that it has been strengthening ties with separatist groups and supplying them with arms.
However, the large numbers of Ossetians who hold Russia passports has led the Russian authorities to declare their intention to defend their citizens from Georgian military action.
What other factors are there?
Kosovo's declaration of independence earlier this year may have spurred some separatist in the region on in the belief that they too may achieve their goal.
Additionally, President Saakashvili's aim for Georgia to become a member of Nato may also have aggravated the Russian administration, who are in increasingly concerned about more eastern countries joining the coalition.
