Foreign relations of South Ossetia

Politics of South Ossetia
Constitution
Executive President of South Ossetia Alan Gagloev Prime Minister of South Ossetia Konstantin Dzhussoev
Legislature Parliament of South Ossetia Chairman Alan Tadtaev Political parties
Elections Elections Presidential: 2017 2022 Parliamentary: 2019 2024
Administrative divisions First level: Four Raions Second level: Towns / cities
Foreign relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister: Dmitry Medoyev International recognition Provisional Administration of South Ossetia Politics of Georgia Georgian–Ossetian conflict Proposed Russian annexation of South Ossetia Passport Visa requirements Visa policy Diplomatic missions of / in South Ossetia
Other countries
v t e

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 (1991–1992). 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 5 United Nations (UN) member states and 3 other partially recognized states. These include: Russia, Nauru, Nicaragua, Syria, Venezuela, Abkhazia (also claimed by Georgia), the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (self-declared state in the non-self-governing territory of Western Sahara, claimed and administered by Morocco), 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.

Country	Date of recognition	Notes
Iran	—	In 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]
Nauru	December 2009	In 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]
Nicaragua	5 September 2008	Main article: Nicaragua–South Ossetia relations On 5 September 2008, Nicaragua became the second UN member state to recognize South Ossetia.
Russia	26 August 2008	Main article: Russia–South Ossetia relations On 26 August 2008, Russia became the first UN member state to recognize South Ossetia. Russia plans on building an embassy in Tskhinval.[6]
Syria	29 May 2018	On 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.[7][8][9]
Turkey	—	South Ossetia and Turkey have no official relations. In 2019, South Ossetia named a representative for Turkey.[10] In 2020, the representative died. Around 50,000 Ossetians live in Turkey.
Tuvalu	19 September 2011–31 March 2014	In 2011, the government of Prime Minister Willy Telavi recognised Abkhazia and South Ossetia.[11] 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.[12][13]
Venezuela	10 September 2009	Main article: South Ossetia–Venezuela relations On 10 September 2009, Venezuela became the third UN member state to recognize South Ossetia.

Country	Date of recognition	Notes
Abkhazia	19 September 2005 or before[note 1]	Main article: Abkhazia–South Ossetia relations Abkhazia and South Ossetia recognized each other's independence on 19 September 2005 or before.[note 1] Abkhazia has an embassy in Tskhinvali.
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic	30 September 2010 (de facto)[14][15][16][17][18][19]	On 29 September 2010 the SADR Minister for African Issues Mohamed Yeslem Beyssat said referring to South Ossetia: “Western Sahara de facto recognizes the independence of South Ossetia. Now we have to formalise relations de jure, including the establishment of diplomatic relations".[15] The two states have had various formal and informal contacts.[20]
Transnistria	12 October 1994 or before[note 1]	Representative offices of Transnistria in Abkhazia and South Ossetia have been opened.[21] Representative offices of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in Tiraspol have been opened.

Country	Date of recognition	Notes
Artsakh	17 November 2006[22]–1 January 2024	Artsakh, Abkhazia and South Ossetia mutually recognised each other.[23] Artsakh would cease to exist following an Azerbaijani offensive in 2023.
Donetsk People's Republic	13 May 2015–30 September 2022	Main article: Donetsk People's Republic–South Ossetia relations South 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 Republic	28 January 2015–30 September 2022	After receiving diplomatic recognition from South Ossetia in 2014, the Luhansk People's Republic reciprocated recognition on 28 January 2015.[24] In April 2015, South Ossetia opened the first foreign embassy in Luhansk.[25] The LPR was annexed by Russia on 30 September 2022. The annexation is internationally unrecognized.

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

• Foreign relations of Abkhazia

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia Website