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Ossetia

 
Dictionary: Os·se·tia   (ō-sē'shə) pronunciation
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A region of the central Caucasus. The area was annexed by Russia between 1801 and 1806 and is now split into North Ossetia, an autonomous republic of the Russian Federation, and South Ossetia, a region of Georgia.

Ossetian Os·se'tian adj. & n.

 

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Columbia Encyclopedia: Ossetia
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Ossetia (ŏsē'shə, Rus. əsyĕ'tēə) or Alania (älän'yä), region of the central Caucasus, divided between the Republic of Georgia and the Russian Federation. On the northern slope is North Ossetia-Alania (1990 est. pop. 641,000), 3,100 sq mi (8,029 sq km), a constituent republic of Russia; Vladikavkaz (formerly Ordzhonikidze) is the capital. This region extends north beyond the Terek River. On the southern slope is South Ossetia (1990 est. pop. 100,000), 1,500 sq mi (3,885 sq km), an autonomous region of Georgia that has had de facto independence since the 1990s; Tskhinvali is its capital. The region extends southward almost to the Kura River.

Both sections of Ossetia have valleys that produce fruit, wine, grain, and cotton. Lumbering and livestock raising are important in the mountains. North Ossetia-Alania has lead, silver, zinc, and boron deposits and nonferrous metallurgical, oil-extracting, and food-processing industries. Ossetian artwork includes wood, stone, and silver carving.

The Ossetians, an Iranian-speaking people, are mainly Sunni Muslims in the north and Eastern Orthodox Christians in the south, where Georgian culture prevails. They are descended from the medieval Alans (see Sarmatia). During the 17th cent. the Northern Ossetians were subject to Karbada princelings. From the 18th cent. they came under strong Russian influence, and between 1801 and 1806 all of Ossetian territory was annexed to Russia.

In Mar., 1918, the entire area was declared an autonomous soviet republic, and in Jan., 1920, was renamed the Mountain Autonomous Republic. In 1922, South Ossetia was made part of Georgia; in 1924 North Ossetia-Alania (then called North Ossetia) became an autonomous region in the RSFSR. In 1936, North Ossetia was made an autonomous republic. North Ossetia-Alania was a signatory to the Mar. 31, 1992, treaty that created the Russian Federation (see Russia).

The republic has not been immune to the turmoil in neighboring regions. In 1992, after several days of fighting, tens of thousands of Ingush inhabitants of North Ossetia-Alania's Prigorodny region, once part of the Checheno-Ingush ASSR and to be reincorporated into it under a 1991 Soviet law, fled or were expelled to the newly established republic of Ingushetia. The city of Beslan was the scene in 2004 of a Chechen-Ingush terrorist seizure of a middle school; the siege ended violently, with the death of more than 300 hostages. North Ossetians have been strong supporters of the nationalists in South Ossetia, and the leaders of both regions have called for their unification as a republic in the Russian Federation.

In 1990 South Ossetia, having previously unilaterally declared itself an independent republic within the Soviet Union in response to increasing Georgian nationalism, was stripped of its autonomous region status by an act of the Georgian Supreme Soviet. Following Georgia's independence from the Soviet Union, Ossetian nationalists in South Ossetia demanded either independence from Georgia or incorporation into North Ossetia-Alania, and in late 1991 fighting broke out between Georgian and Ossetian forces. In Apr., 1992, the South Ossetian Autonomous Region was reestablished in Georgia. Fighting in the region between Georgian and Ossetian forces was ended by a truce in July, which left much of South Ossetia under the control of the Ossetians. Further accords were signed in 1996, but the political situation remained unresolved, with South Ossetia dependent on Russia for support.

Tensions increased in 2004 as Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili sought to reassert Georgian supremacy over the nation's independence-minded autonomous republics and regions, and two years later South Ossetians voted overwhelmingly for independence in a referendum that was not generally recognized internationally. Escalating tensions in Aug., 2008, led to a Georgian invasion of the region; Russian forces then entered South Ossetia, routed the Georgians, and for a time occupied some neighboring areas of Georgia. Russia subsequently recognized South Ossetia as independent. Both sides were accused of human-rights violations during the conflict, and South Ossetian militias also were accused of ethnic cleansing against ethnic Georgian inhabitants of the region following the cease-fire.

Wikipedia: North Ossetia-Alania
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Republic of North Ossetia-Alania (English)
Республика Северная Осетия-Алания (Russian)
Республикӕ Цӕгат Ирыстон — Алани (Ossetic)
Map of Russia - Republic of North Ossetia-Alania (2008-03).svg
Coordinates: n/a
Coat of Arms Flag
Coat of Arms of North Ossetia-Alania.png
Seal of North Ossetia-Alania		 Flag of North Ossetia.svg
Flag of North Ossetia-Alania
Anthem: National Anthem of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania
Capital Vladikavkaz
Established July 7, 1924
Political status Republic
Federal District Southern[1]
Economic region North Caucasus[2]
Area[3] 8,000 km2 (3,088.8 sq mi)
- Rank within Russia 79th
Code
ISO 3166-2:RU		 15
RU-SE
Population (as of the 2002 Census)
Population[4] 710,275 inhabitants
- Rank within Russia 68th
- Density 88.8 /km2 (230/sq mi)
- Urban[4] 65.5%
- Rural[4] 34.5%
Official language(s) Russian, Ossetic[5]
Government (as of November 2008)
Head[6] Taymuraz Mamsurov[7]
Legislative body Parliament[6]
Constitution Constitution of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania
Official website
http://www.rso-a.ru/

The Republic of North Ossetia-Alania (Russian: Республика Северная Осетия–Алания, IPA [rʲɪˈspʊblʲɪkə ˈsʲevʲɪrnəjə ɐˈsʲetʲɪjə ɐˈlanʲɪjə]; Ossetic: Республикæ Цæгат Ирыстон — Алани; North-Ossetia.ogg the name in Ossetic (help·info)) is a federal subject of Russia (a republic). The direct romanization of the Russian name of the republic is Respublika Severnaya Osetiya-Alaniya. Its name in Ossetic transliterates (in the ISO 9-system) as Respublikæ Cægat Iryston - Alani.

Contents

Name

In the last years of the Soviet Union, as nationalist movements swept throughout the Caucasus, many intellectuals in the North Ossetian ASSR called for the revival of the name of Alania, a medieval kingdom of the Alans, ancestors of the modern-day Ossetians. The term of "Alania" quickly became popular in Ossetian daily life through the names of various enterprises, a TV channel, political and civic organizations, publishing house, soccer team, etc. In November 1994, the name of "Alania" was officially added to the republican title (Republic of North Ossetia-Alania).[8]

History

Main article: History of North Ossetia-Alania

Early history

 The factual accuracy of part of this article is disputed.
The dispute is about the map.
Please see the relevant discussion on the talk page before making changes.(July 2009)

The territory of North Ossetia-Alania was first inhabited by Caucasians tribes. Some Nomadic Alans settled in the region in the 7th century, forming the kingdom of Alania. It was converted to Christianity by Byzantine missionaries. Alania greatly profited from the Silk Road which passed through its territory.

After the Middle Ages, the Mongols' and Tartars' repeated invasions decimated the population, now known as the Ossetians. Islam was introduced to the region in the 17th century by Kabardians. Conflicts between the Khanate of Crimea and the Ottoman Empire eventually pushed Ossetia into an alliance with Imperial Russia in the 18th century. Soon, Russia formed a military in the capital, Vladikavkaz, becoming the first Russia-controlled area in the northern Caucasus. By 1806, Ossetia was under complete Russian control.

Russian/Soviet rule

Border changes after World War II

The Russians' rule led to rapid development of industry and railways which overcame its isolation. The first books from the area came during the late 18th century, and became part of the Terskaya Region of Russia in the mid-19th century.

The Russian Revolution of 1917 resulted in North Ossetia being merged into the Soviet Mountain Republic in 1921. It then became the North Ossetian Autonomous Oblast on 7 July 1924, then merged into the North Ossetian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic on 5 December 1936. During World War II, it was subject to a number of invasions by Nazi Germany unsuccessfully trying to seize Vladikavkaz.

The North Ossetian SSR became the first autonomous republic 20 June 1990 of the Soviet Union, being renamed to the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania in 1991.

Post Soviet rule

The Soviet Union's collapse posed particular problems for the Ossetian people, who were divided between North Ossetia, which was part of the Russian SFSR, and South Ossetia, part of the Georgian SSR. In December 1990 the Supreme Soviet of Georgia abolished the autonomous Ossetian enclave amid the rising ethnic tensions in the region, and much of the population fled across the border to North Ossetia or Georgia proper. Some 70,000 South Ossetian refugees were resettled in North Ossetia, sparking clashes with the predominantly Ingush population in the Prigorodny District. That led to the Ossetian-Ingush conflict.

As well as dealing with the effects of the conflict in South Ossetia, North Ossetia has had to deal with refugees and the occasional spillover of fighting from the war in neighboring Chechnya. The bloodiest incident by far was the September 2004 Beslan hostage crisis, in which Chechen Muslim separatists of Shamil Basayev seized control of a school. In the firefight between the terrorists and Russian forces that ended the crisis, 335 civilians, the majority of them children, died.

Geography

North Ossetian landscape Kwyrttaty kom

The Republic is in the northern Caucasus. The northern part of the republic is situated in the Stavropol Plain. 22% of the republic's territory is covered by forests.

Time zone

Map of Russia - Moscow time zone.svg

North Ossetia-Alania is in the Moscow Time Zone (MSK/MSD). UTC offset is +0300 (MSK)/+0400 (MSD).

Rivers

All of the republic's rivers belong to the basin of the Terek River. Major rivers include:

Mountains

Map of the region with the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania highlighted
Map of North Ossetia-Alania

All of the mountains located on the territory of the republic are a part of the Caucasus. Mount Kazbek is the highest point (5,033 m), with Mount Dzhimara being the second highest (4,780 m).

Natural resources

Natural resources include minerals (copper, silver, zinc), timber, mineral waters, hydroelectric power, and untapped reserves of oil and gas.

Climate

Climate is moderately continental.

  • Average January temperature: −5 °C (23 °F)
  • Average July temperature: +24 °C (75.2 °F)
  • Average annual precipitation: 400–700 mm in the plains, over 1,000 mm in the mountains.

Administrative divisions

Main article: Administrative divisions of North Ossetia-Alania

Demographics

  • Population: 710,275 (2002)
    • Urban: 464,875 (65.5%)
    • Rural: 245,400 (34.5%)
    • Male: 336,035 (47.3%)
    • Female: 374,240 (52.7%)
  • Females per 1000 males: 1,114
  • Average age: 33.8 years
    • Urban: 34.2 years
    • Rural: 32.9 years
    • Male: 30.4 years
    • Female: 36.9 years
  • Number of households: 200,191 (with 690,806 people)
    • Urban: 143,397 (with 447,884 people)
    • Rural: 56,794 (with 242,922 people)
  • Vital statistics (2005)
    • Births: 7,894 (birth rate 11.2)
    • Deaths: 8,654 (death rate 12.3)
  • Ethnic groups

The Ossetian population of North Ossetia is predominantly Christian with a Muslim minority, speaking Ossetic and Russian.

According to the 2002 Census, Ossetians make up 62.7% of the republic's population. Other groups include Russians (23.2%), Ingush (3.0%), Armenians (2.4%), Kumyks (12,659, or 1.8%), Georgians (10,803, or 1.5%), Ukrainians (0.7%), Chechens (3,383, or 0.5%), and a host of smaller groups, each accounting for less than 0.5% of the total population. 3,283 people (0.5%) did not indicate their nationalities during the Census.

census 1926 census 1939 census 1959 census 1970 census 1979 census 1989 census 2002
Ossetians 139,120 (60.3%) 165,616 (50.3%) 215,463 (47.8%) 269,326 (48.7%) 299,022 (50.5%) 334,876 (53.0%) 445,310 (62.7%)
Russians 50,272 (21.8%) 122,614 (37.2%) 178,654 (39.6%) 202,367 (36.6%) 200,692 (33.9%) 189,159 (29.9%) 164,734 (23.2%)
Ingush 1,540 (0.7%) 6,106 (1.9%) 6,071 (1.3%) 18,387 (3.3%) 23,663 (4.0%) 32,783 (5.2%) 21,442 (3.0%)
Armenians 6,921 (3.0%) 8,932 (2.7%) 12,012 (2.7%) 13,355 (2.4%) 12,912 (2.2%) 13,619 (2.2%) 17,147 (2.4%)
Ukrainians 14,282 (6.2%) 7,063 (2.1%) 9,362 (2.1%) 9,250 (1.7%) 10,574 (1.8%) 10,088 (1.6%) 5,198 (0.7%)
Others 18,646 (8.1%) 18,874 (5.7%) 29,019 (6.4%) 39,896 (7.2%) 45,139 (7.6%) 51,903 (8.2%) 56,444 (7.9%)

Vital Statistics for 2007: Source

  • Birth Rate: 13.45 per 1000
  • Death Rate: 11.25 per 1000
  • Net Immigration: -1.0 per 1000
  • NGR: +0.22% per Year
  • PGR: +0.12% per Year

Demographics for 2008

  • Births: 9,995
  • Deaths: 7,970
  • Net Migration: -2,655
  • Number of Refugees: 12,570 [9]

Politics

The head of government in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania is the Head of the Republic. As of 2008, the head of the republic is Taymuraz Mamsurov. Mamsurov succeeded Alexander Dzasokhov, who voluntarily quit his post on May 31, 2005.[10]

Economy

In recent years North Ossetia Alania's economic development has been successful; the indicators of the republic's social and economic development in 2005-2007 revealed a stable growth of all sectors of the economy and major social parameters. The nature and climatic conditions of the republic contribute to the successful development of various economic sectors, which is compounded by the abundance of natural resources. Gross regional product pro capita of the region in 2006 was 61,000 rubles ($2,596), and increased 30% in the 2005-2007 time period.[11] GRP pro capita in 2007 was 76 455 rubles.[12] In 2005-2007, the average monthly wage in North Ossetia-Alania doubled, with the actual cash earnings increased by 42.5 percent. In terms of the average monthly wage growth, the republic ranks first in the North Caucasus.[11]

The regional government's economic priorities include industrial growth, development of small enterprise, spas, and resorts, and strengthening the budgetary and tax discipline.[13]

Natural resources, agriculture and industry

The most widespread resources are zinc- and led-containing complex ores. There are deposits of limestone, dolomites, marble and touchstone. There is also a large availability of construction materials, such as clay, sand and gravel. The local oil deposit reserves are estimated at 10 million metric tons.[11]

Agricultural sector is varied and specializes in the cultivation of wheat, corn, and sunflowers; horticulture; viticulture; and cattle and sheep breeding.[14][15]

North Ossetia's industry is mainly concentrated in Vladikavkaz. Major companies located here include Elektrotsink, Gazoapparat, an instrument-making plant, Elektrokontraktor, a factory producing automotive electrical equipment, a large-panel construction complex, and companies in the food industry. The Sadonsky industrial center has grown around the mining and forest industries.[15]

Tourism

Despite the proximity of the republic to Chechnya, North Ossetia is making efforts to develop its tourist industry.[16] Projects under a program for spa, resort, and tourism development have been successfully implemented in the mountainous part of the republic, according to the head of the regional government.[13] There are nearly 3000 historical monuments in the republic and more than half of the its area is occupied bv Alania National Park, the North Ossetia National Preserve, and game preserves. There are more than 250 therapeutic, mineral, and freshwater springs in the republic with estimated daily reserves of 15,000 cubic meters. Besides providing the basis for health spas, these mineral waters also have the potential to be bottled and sold. North Ossetian mineral waters are known for their unique qualities, as well as special mineral composition.[15][16]

Infrastructure

In terms of its infrastructure, North Ossetia-Alania ranks second in the Southern Federal District and 10th in the nation.[11] The republic has some of the most extensive telecommunication networks in the North Caucasus region and in Russia. It ranks first in terms of its telecom network installations in the Southern Federal District.

The republic ranks fourth in Russia in terms of its paved roads, and its expanding transport and logistics complex provides communication networks between Russia and the South Caucasus, as well as Central Asia. The complex includes two federal highways (Georgian Military Road connects Vladikavkaz with Transcaucasia) running across the Greater Caucasus Range, two customs checkpoints for cars, a developed railway network, Vladikavkaz international airport, and well-equipped transport terminals.[11]

Culture

There are six professional theaters in North Ossetia-Alania, as well as Ossetian State Philarmonia.

Education

The most important facilities of higher education include North Caucasus State Technological University, North Ossetian State University, North Ossetian State Medical Academy, and Mountain State Agrarian University; all in Vladikavkaz.

Religion

The predominant religion in the republic is Russian Orthodox Christianity, followed by Islam. Many of the native rituals predate both faiths.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Госстандарт Российской Федерации. №ОК 024-95 27 декабря 1995 г. «Общероссийский классификатор экономических регионов. 1. Федеральные округа», в ред. Изменения №5/2001 ОКЭР. (Gosstandart of the Russian Federation. #OK 024-95 December 27, 1995 Russian Classification of Economic Regions. 1. Federal Districts, as amended by the Amendment #5/2001 OKER. ).
  2. ^ Госстандарт Российской Федерации. №ОК 024-95 27 декабря 1995 г. «Общероссийский классификатор экономических регионов. 2. Экономические районы», в ред. Изменения №5/2001 ОКЭР. (Gosstandart of the Russian Federation. #OK 024-95 December 27, 1995 Russian Classification of Economic Regions. 2. Economic Regions, as amended by the Amendment #5/2001 OKER. ).
  3. ^ Федеральная служба государственной статистики (Federal State Statistics Service) (2004-05-21). "Территория, число районов, населённых пунктов и сельских администраций по субъектам Российской Федерации (Territory, Number of Districts, Inhabited Localities, and Rural Administration by Federal Subjects of the Russian Federation)" (in Russian). Всероссийская перепись населения 2002 года (All-Russia Population Census of 2002). Federal State Statistics Service. http://perepis2002.ru/ct/html/TOM_01_03.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-17. 
  4. ^ a b c Федеральная служба государственной статистики (Federal State Statistics Service) (2004-05-21). "Численность населения России, субъектов Российской Федерации в составе федеральных округов, районов, городских поселений, сельских населённых пунктов – районных центров и сельских населённых пунктов с населением 3 тысячи и более человек (Population of Russia, its federal districts, federal subjects, districts, urban localities, rural localities—administrative centers, and rural localities with population of over 3,000)" (in Russian). Всероссийская перепись населения 2002 года (All-Russia Population Census of 2002). Federal State Statistics Service. http://perepis2002.ru/ct/html/TOM_01_04_1.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-17. 
  5. ^ Constitution, Article 15.1
  6. ^ a b Constitution, Article 7
  7. ^ Official website of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania. Taymuraz Dzambekovich Mamsurov (Russian)
  8. ^ Shnirelman, Victor (2006). The Politics of a Name: Between Consolidation and Separation in the Northern Caucasus. Acta Slavica Iaponica 23, pp. 37-49.
  9. ^ http://www.regnum.ru/news/1129867.html
  10. ^ Regional government to quit over Beslan tragedy: president from ABC
  11. ^ a b c d e "North Ossetia-Alania: social and economic indicators looking up". Moscow News. 2008-09-18. http://mnweekly.rian.ru/news/20080918/55347008.html. 
  12. ^ Валовой региональный продукт на душу населения Федеральная служба государственной статистики
  13. ^ a b "Republic of North Ossetia-Alania - Introduction". Russia: All Regions Trade & Investment Guide. CTEC Publishing LLC. 2008. http://www.russiasregions.com/north_ossetia_alania.html. 
  14. ^ "North Ossetia-Alania". Microsoft Encarta. http://uk.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_781534125/north_ossetia-alania.html. Retrieved 2009-06-04. 
  15. ^ a b c "Republic of North Ossetia". Kommersant. 2004-03-11. http://www.kommersant.com/p-105/r_448/Republic_of_North_Ossetia/. Retrieved 2009-06-04. 
  16. ^ a b "Republic of North Ossetia". Russia Profile. 2008-08-25. http://www.russiaprofile.org/resources/territory/districts/osetiya/. Retrieved 2009-06-04. 

References

  • Верховный Совет Республики Северная Осетия. 12 ноября 1994 г. «Конституция Республики Северная Осетия-Алания», в ред. Закона №7-ркз от 22 декабря 2006 г. (Supreme Council of the Republic of North Ossetia. November 12, 1994 Constitution of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, as amended by the Law #7-rkz of December 22, 2006. ).

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Coordinates: 42°57′52″N 44°07′16″E / 42.96446°N 44.12109°E / 42.96446; 44.12109


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