The Ossetians (known in ancient times as Alans) entered this province (see map at Caucasus) during the Mongol invasion of what is now Russia in the 13th century. The land was then occupied by Kartvelan speakers. Is it part of the "sacred land" of the Georgians? Surely, this is a dangerous idea. There were of course still 20% of Georgian speakers living in this mountainous land - the size of an average English county - until most were expelled during the events since the breakup of the Soviet Union.

Most Ossetians are Orthodox Christians - though a proportion are Muslims. They speak a language related to those spoken in Iran. Their second language is Russian. Most Ossetians live in the territory of North Ossetia, an autonomous Republic within the the Russan federation. In practice the southerners are Russian citizens.

August 2008: Russia seemed to be attacking Georgia with bombers over the disputed territory of South Ossetia and a land invasion with tanks. Russians claim that they acted because the Saakashvili government had invaded South Ossetia to regain control over the territory, despite the presence of Russian troops there. It would seem likely that Georgia will not regain the territories of Avkhasia and South Ossetia. Both of them will probably continue to be, at least informally, part of Russia (Ossetians already carry Russian passports, along with Avkhasians).

What is the real role of the Ossetians? The policy of president/prime minister Putin seems to be to regain as many as possible of the former territories of the Soviet Union and pre-1918 Russian Empire. No doubt also he wants to gain control of the pipeline passing through Georgia built by western oil companies to connect the Caspian oil fields with the Black Sea, while by-passing Russia.

Kartvelan (Gruziyan)

Ossetian - an Iranic language

Russian

Georgian (Kartuli), Megrelian, Svan, Laz (Chan)

In 1992 the government of the province of South Ossetia - during the Soviet period an autonomous Republic of Georgia - declared independence of Georgia, probably with the support of Russia.

In January 2004 a new president of Georgia, Mikhail Saakashvili, educated in the US and with a Dutch wife, was elected. He promised to fight the universal corruption left by the previous regime. Can he succeed? He also hopes for membership of the EU. This cannot occur soon, if at all.

The August 2008 war probably was provoked by Saakashvili's attempt to reassert Georgian control over South Ossetia. The main result was the destruction of the capital, Tshikinvali. Was Saakashvili "encouraged" by the neo-cons then running the United States?

By 2009 there were increasing calls for him to resign.

None: 50,000 people (estimated) with traditional agriculture including excellent grapes and wine).