GEORGIAN-OSSETIAN RELATIONS IN THE CONTEXT OF RUSSIAN OCCUPATION

Abstract

As a result of the borderization of the dividing line by the occupation regime in the former South Ossetian Autonomous Region, 135 settlements ended up on the territory controlled by Russia; 34 villages under Georgia’s jurisdiction were divided and a single community was split into two parts. Both Georgian and Ossetian populations on both sides of the occupation “border” cannot cross freely the occupation line, and their private and public property has become inaccessible to most of them. The occupation policy of Russia has led to the disruption of traditional ethno-cultural and economic ties between Georgians and Ossetians, their isolation and alienation. The current situation is causing irreversible damage to Georgian-Ossetian relations and is likely to lead to the transformation of the ethnic and state identity of the population living in the Russian-controlled part. The consequences of borderization minimize the possibility of initiating any constructive process at this stage.