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Foreign relations of South Ossetia

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Foreign relations of South Ossetia
  diplomatic relations and recognition
  diplomatic recognition only

The Republic of South Ossetia – the State of Alania is a partially recognized state in the South Caucasus that declared independence from Georgia during the South Ossetia War of 1991–92. At the time, the Soviet Union had only just recently collapsed in 1991. Since 1991, South Ossetia has sought recognition as a sovereign state from the international community. South Ossetia is considered by most of the international community to be a part of Georgia.

South Ossetia maintains relations with 4 United Nations member states and 3 other partially recognized states. These include: Russia, Nicaragua, Syria, Venezuela, Abkhazia (also claimed by Georgia), and Transnistria (claimed by Moldova). South Ossetia was central to the Russo-Georgian War (12 days in August 2008), alongside Abkhazia. Shortly after the war, Russia recognized South Ossetia (26 August 2008), the first UN member state to do so.

The Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic arranged mutual recognition with South Ossetia in 2014, but they were annexed by Russia on 30 September 2022.

Relations with sovereign states

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Country Date of recognition Notes
IranN/aIn July 2019, the South Ossetian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmitry Medoyev said that his country is willing to expand its cooperation with Iran. There are "deep-rooted economic, scientific and cultural ties between Iran and South Ossetian" he added.[1]
NauruDecember 2009–July 2026In December 2009, Nauru recognized the independence of South Ossetia. Nauru's foreign minister, Kieren Keke, visited Tskhinvali that year.[2][3] In 2012, the South Ossetian Independence Day celebrations were attended by President Sprent Dabwido, who delivered a speech at the ceremony.[4] In 2018, a South Ossetian delegation visited Nauru and the country's foreign ministry appointed a New Zealander as a representative in Nauru.[5] However, the government of David Adeang revoked the diplomatic relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia on 21 July 2026.[6][7] On 30 July 2026, Nauru formally withdrew its recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states.[8][9]
Nicaragua5 September 2008

On 5 September 2008, Nicaragua became the second UN member state to recognize South Ossetia.

Russia26 August 2008

On 26 August 2008, Russia became the first UN member state to recognize South Ossetia. Russia plans on building an embassy in Tskhinvali.[10] South Ossetia has an embassy in Moscow.

Syria29 May 2018On 29 May 2018, Syria became the latest UN member state to recognize South Ossetia. On 22 July 2018, during the state visit of President Anatoly Bibilov to Damascus, South Ossetia and Syria have signed an agreement on establishing diplomatic ties.[11][12][13]
TurkeyN/aSouth Ossetia and Turkey have no official relations. In 2019, South Ossetia named a representative for Turkey.[14] In 2020, the representative died.
Around 50,000 Ossetians live in Turkey.
Tuvalu19 September 2011–31 March 2014In 2011, the government of Prime Minister Willy Telavi recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia.[15] However, the government of Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga retracted the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia on 31 March 2014 when Tuvalu's Foreign Minister Taukelina Finikaso signed an agreement to establish diplomatic relations with Georgia. Tuvalu's Foreign Minister said that his country supports Georgia's territorial integrity in its international recognized borders.[16][17]
Venezuela10 September 2009

On 10 September 2009, Venezuela became the third UN member state to recognize South Ossetia.

Relations with partially recognized states

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Country Date of recognition Notes
Abkhazia19 September 2005 or before[note 1] Abkhazia and South Ossetia recognized each other's independence on 19 September 2005 or before.[note 1]
Abkhazia has an embassy in Tskhinvali.
Transnistria12 October 1994 or before[note 1]Representative offices of Transnistria in Abkhazia and South Ossetia have been opened.[18]
Representative offices of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in Tiraspol have been opened.

Relations with former partially recognized states

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Country Date of recognition Notes
Artsakh17 November 2006[19]–1 January 2024Artsakh, Abkhazia and South Ossetia mutually recognized each other.[20] Artsakh would cease to exist following an Azerbaijani offensive in 2023.
Donetsk People's Republic13 May 2015–30 September 2022South Ossetia recognized Donetsk People's Republic on 27 June 2014.
Donetsk People's Republic recognized South Ossetia on 13 May 2015.
The DPR was annexed by Russia on 30 September 2022. The annexation is internationally unrecognized.
Luhansk People's Republic28 January 2015–30 September 2022After receiving diplomatic recognition from South Ossetia in 2014, the Luhansk People's Republic reciprocated recognition on 28 January 2015.[21]
In April 2015, South Ossetia opened the first foreign embassy in Luhansk.[22]
The LPR was annexed by Russia on 30 September 2022. The annexation is internationally unrecognized.

Diplomatic missions

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Offices in South Ossetia

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Ossetian missions

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Membership in international organizations

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As of March 2009, South Ossetia is a member of one international organization, the Community for Democracy and Human Rights.

See also

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Notes

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  1. 1 2 3 The date when Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transnistria recognize each other is not clear. Abkhazia and Transnistria signed a Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation on 22 January 1993, South Ossetia and Transnistria a Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation on 12 October 1994 and Abkhazia and South Ossetia a Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation on 19 September 2005.

References

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  1. ↑ South Ossetia Willing to Boost Cooperation with Iran, tasnimnews.com 20 July 2019.
  2. ↑ Luke Harding: Tiny Nauru struts world stage by recognising breakaway republics, theguardian.com 14 December 2009.
  3. ↑ Nauru recognises South Ossetia and Abkhazia, telegraph.co.uk 15 December 2009.
  4. ↑ "Президент Науру: мы не будем отзывать признание Абхазии и Южной Осетии" [President of Nauru: we will not withdraw recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia]. ria.ru (in Russian). 20 September 2012.
  5. ↑ New Zealander to represent South Ossetia in Nauru, radionz.co.nz 25 January 2018.
  6. ↑ "Nauru Cuts Diplomatic Ties with Occupied Abkhazia, Tskhinvali Regions as Tbilisi Welcomes Move". Civil Georgia. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  7. ↑ "ნაურუს რესპუბლიკამ ოკუპირებულ ე.წ. სამხრეთ ოსეთთან და აფხაზეთთან დიპლომატიური ურთიერთობები გააუქმა". 1TV (in Georgian). Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  8. ↑ "Media Release: Government withdraws recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia". The Government of the Republic of Naoero on Facebook. 30 July 2026. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
  9. ↑ "Nauru Withdraws Recognition of Georgia's Occupied Regions". Civil Georgia. 30 July 2026. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  10. ↑ "Vladimir Putin signed a direction about establishment of Russian embassies in Abkhazia and South Ossetia". REGNUM. 11 February 2009. Archived from the original on 21 February 2009. Retrieved 5 April 2009.
  11. ↑ "Syria, South Ossetia Sign Agreement on Establishing Diplomatic Ties". Syria Times. 22 July 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  12. ↑ "Bashar al-Assad Hosts Anatoly Bibilov". Archived from the original on 24 July 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  13. ↑ "Leader of breakaway South Ossetia meets Assad in Syria". Retrieved 24 July 2018.
  14. ↑ "Полпредом МИД Южной Осетии в Турецкой Республике назначен Ремзи Канукати". Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  15. ↑ Sukhumi (23 September 2011). "Tuvalu becomes sixth state to recognize Abkhazia". Rianovosti. Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  16. ↑ "Tuvalu Retracts Abkhazia, S.Ossetia Recognition". civil.ge. 31 March 2014. Archived from the original on 31 March 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  17. ↑ "Tuvalu scraps recognition of Georgia breakaway regions". Business Standard/AFP (Tbilisi). 31 March 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  18. ↑ Представительство Приднестровской Молдавской Республики в Республике Южная Осетия. Representative office of Transnistria in South Ossetia (in Russian). Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  19. ↑ "Cтраны, признавшие независимость Республики Абхазия". Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  20. ↑ Вице-спикер парламента Абхазии: Выборы в НКР соответствуют всем международным стандартам Archived 11 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine: "Абхазия, Южная Осетия, НКР и Приднестровье уже давно признали независимость друг друга и очень тесно сотрудничают между собой", – сказал вице-спикер парламента Абхазии. ... "...Абхазия признала независимость Нагорно-Карабахской Республики..." – сказал он."
  21. ↑ "Luhansk People's Republic Recognizes South Ossetia – News". The Moscow Times. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  22. ↑ Vadim Dyakonov. "The Embassy of South Ossetia opened in LNR". «15-th REGION». Archived from the original on 23 March 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
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