Ossetian nationalism

Ossetian nationalism is a ethnic nationalist ideology advocating the independence of South Ossetia-Alania, the promotion of the Ossetian language and ethnic identity as well as the creation of an independent nation-state from the Georgia.

Flag of South Ossetia-Alania.
Flag of North Ossetia-Alania.

History

Ossetian nationalism became a political force following the Abkhazian War where Abkhazian nationalists succeeded in winning their independence from Georgia with the help of the Russian Federation, galvanizing Ossetian nationalists as well. conflict with the Georgian central power as well as the Georgian nationalist policy in force.[1] This Ossetian nationalism was motivated to counter the policies of the government led by Georgian nationalist Zviad Gamsakhurdia which sowed waves of fear among the republic's non-Georgian populations, particularly the Abkhazians from the west coast and the Ossetians.[2]

In the late 1980s, the Ossetian nationalist organization, Adamon Nikhas (Voice of the People) was established[3] and on November 10, 1989, the Supreme Soviet of South Ossetia petitioned the Supreme Soviet of the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic to raise the status of the region to that of an autonomous republic. However, this request was rejected on November 16 and the Georgians besieged Tskhinvali on November 23, 1989.[4] In 1990, Ossetian nationalists declared the independence of South Ossetia based on the results of a referendum that was never recognized internationally. This new state moved closer to the republic of North Ossetia-Alania, with which it has a border, a linguistic and ethnic identity as well as a common culture. This declaration of independence led to the First South Ossetian War, won by Ossetian nationalists, who founded the South Ossetian Armed Forces during the war .

During the Russo-Georgian War, Ossetian nationalists were assisted by Russia against the Georgian government as the conflict took on high intensity. After the war, the independence of South Ossetia-Alania was recognized by the Russian Federation. The victory of Russian and Ossetian forces also led to mass expulsions of ethnic Georgians living in South Ossetia-Alania. In total, at least 20,000 Georgians are forcibly displaced from South Ossetia.[5]

Ossetian nationalists have the particularity of being strongly Russophiles, partly because Russia, under the Tsarist, Soviet and then federal eras, has always defended the promotion of Ossetian identity. Thus during the Russo-Ukrainian War, South Ossetian nationalists took part in the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.[6]

However,South Ossetian nationalists are trying to transform the South Ossetian economy into a more independent one, and not be dependent on Russia.[7]

References
  1. Zurab Davitashvili (2022). "Abkhazian and Ossetian nationalism as the basis of separatism". Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  2. "L'Ossétie du Sud face aux nationalismes". Libération (in French). 2008-08-21. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  3. Marietta König. Institut für Friedensforschung und Sicherheitspolitik (IFSH) an der Universität Hamburg (ed.). "The Georgian-South Ossetian Conflict" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 March 2014.
  4. Hasan Kanbolat (13 August 2008). "What is the recent history of the South Ossetia issue?". Archived from the original on 28 March 2014.
  5. "August 28, 2008 Article: Georgia warns of ethnic cleansing in South Ossetia. AP via highbeam". Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  6. "South Ossetian troops fighting for Russia in Ukraine". Eurasianet. 2022-04-29. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
  7. {{https://ugo-osetia.ru/politika/%D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%8F-%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%BE-%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B0-%D0%B2%D1%8B%D0%B4%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%83%D0%BB%D0%B0-%D1%81}}
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