What kind of money is there in South Ossetia? Republic of South Ossetia. I hope this is not a military secret

Many Russians believe that South Ossetia is part of Russia. There are Russian passports, our ruble, Russia pays them pensions and salaries for state employees, South Ossetians vote in our elections. Although formally, according to international standards, this is Georgian territory. We still didn’t cross the border.

In 2017, they plan to hold a referendum in South Ossetia on the annexation of this unrecognized republic to Russia. South Ossetia, along with another Georgian region, Abkhazia, declared its independence after a military conflict with Georgia in 2008. Now South Ossetia is recognized by Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru, Tuvalu and the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic.

I was in North Ossetia at the invitation of the Guild of Interethnic Journalism. After the North Caucasus stage of the Media Creator competition, we went on an excursion to the Kurtatin Gorge, just in the direction of Georgia, and on the way we talked with the editor-in-chief of the newspaper “North Ossetia” Alan Kasaev.

In the photo: reading the newspaper “North Ossetia”, the newspaper’s circulation is 20,000 copies. Alan Kasaev is second from left.

An interview with Alan Kasaev was recorded by Yulia Korneva:

— Now the border between North Ossetia, that is, Russia and South Ossetia, is conditional. Crossing the border takes 5-10 minutes including inspection. You only need to present an internal Russian or South Ossetian passport. There is only one border and customs checkpoint between Russia and South Ossetia, along a single road. You can, of course, cross the mountains, but it’s hard. From Vladikavkaz (the capital of North Ossetia - editor's note) to the border is approximately 110 kilometers.

They live approximately the same way: in North Ossetia and in South Ossetia?

It's certainly poorer there. The consequences of the war continue to be felt. The fact is that South Ossetia existed very successfully as a transit territory - further to Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan. And we hoped that after the acute conflict with Georgia in 1990-92, it would be somehow resolved. But in 2004, Saakashvili, under the pretext of fighting smuggling, took and closed all the markets that traded between South Ossetia and Georgia on the territory of South Ossetia. This, of course, was colossal stupidity on his part, because it angered the people to the extreme. After all, what is better: smuggling or war? I think smuggling is much better than war. The Ossetian and Georgian populations on both sides of the then demarcation line coexisted well with each other, exchanges both in kind and in money took place. People went to visit each other and everything was fine. But this decision of his, in my opinion politically stupid and absurd, ultimately led to an acute conflict.
These markets sold everything from greens to cars. It was especially profitable to buy a car because customs duties in Georgia were much lower. You could buy a car there, register it in South Ossetia, and use a temporary permit to drive in Russia.

How did the conflict between South Ossetia and Georgia begin? So let's say, your version?

In 1989, nationalists Gamsakhurdia came to power in Georgia. He came to power under the slogan “Georgia for Georgians.” And I decided to abolish everything autonomous entities on the territory of Georgia: Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Adjara. He didn’t succeed with Adjara, since Georgians live there, only of the Muslim faith. But Abkhazia and South Ossetia simply did not comply. In 1990, South Ossetia did not want to be abolished and the South Ossetian Republic was formed within the USSR, directly subordinate to Moscow. And immediately attempts at armed pressure began from Tbilisi, armed people began to arrive, and sometimes even criminals were released from prison for this. The most acute phase of the conflict began after the collapse Soviet Union in 1991, the peak came in the first half of 1992, when Tskhinvali was surrounded on all sides and fired at from tanks and other heavy weapons.

Have you been to Tskhinvali, are traces of the past hostilities still visible?

In some places they are still visible. The houses are riddled with shells and bullets, and not all of them have been restored yet. Some large buildings still stand burnt. In the eight years that have passed since the last armed conflict, at least 60-70 percent have been restored.

The last time I went there was this summer in June. I am a historian by training, and there is a research institute there and its director turned 70 years old, so we gathered several people, went, congratulated him, stayed a little and returned back. I don’t have close relatives there, but I have friends.

They say that if there is a mark in the passport about crossing the borders with South Ossetia or Abkhazia, then they may not be allowed into Georgia?

Well, we are traveling with internal Russian passports, and not with a foreign passport, and, naturally, they do not put any mark on the Russian passport. In 2010, when I was working in Moscow at the RIA Novosti Agency, we went to Georgia. The famous journalist Maxim Shevchenko and Volodya Mamontov, the then Chief Editor newspaper "Izvestia". It is known about me that I am Ossetian and cannot help but visit South Ossetia, so they let me into Georgia, but they didn’t. Volodya Mamontov was confused with Arkady Mamontov, a TV presenter, and was denied entry. Maxim Shevchenko was also stopped at the airport just in case and for some reason sent on a flight to Yerevan. And I came to Georgia. I have been to Georgia many times. The last time was this year in May. And I never had any problems crossing the border. Although my name is probably on all their secret computer lists.What is the population of South Ossetia in numbers?

According to the 1989 census, the maximum number of people there was 98 thousand. For comparison, in North Ossetia there are now 730 thousand. But now, taking into account the fact that Georgians no longer live in South Ossetia, there are probably 50-60 thousand people there - no more. And of them, about half live in Tskhinvali. People have always lived there not richly, and Georgia has never been particularly involved in this territory. Now Russia is helping South Ossetia: allocating funds for reconstruction, pensions and social benefits.

What kind of money is in use now in South Ossetia?

Russian rubles, they don’t have their own currency. Georgian money does not circulate openly there, but it is possible that they are exchanged there on the black market. But I don't know anything about this.

Is the Crimean scenario possible there?

Annex to Russia? Well, this is a matter of political speculation. The topic of South Ossetia is little known to anyone in Russia; such political dividends cannot be made from it, as in Crimea. Now ask Russians: 9 out of 10 Russians surveyed will be surprised to learn that South Ossetia is not Russia. That is, this is not a topic for some kind of political scandal that would attract and consolidate the electorate and lead to some kind of unity of society around the president. This is not Crimea. For Russia to annex South Ossetia now would mean further spoiling relations with the outside world. And to make sure that a few dozen more Ossetians' sympathies for Putin become even stronger - well, this is not the right dividend.

Is it by chance that South Ossetia is not participating in the Russian elections?

In South Ossetia, almost everyone has Russian passports, that is, they are Russian citizens, so they could vote. At the recent parliamentary elections there were 11 polling stations. But these were polling stations that belonged to the North Ossetian Electoral Commission.

I don't know. But certainly for United Russia. And residents of South Ossetia also participate in the Russian presidential elections.

So, in fact, it’s like Russia?

Well, not quite. For example, they have much lower customs duties than in Russia. Customs duties on cars there are half as much. A big, beautiful, fat Mercedes to clear through customs there will cost, say, ten thousand rubles.

What do they do for a living in order to buy a big beautiful Mercedes?

So it’s not them who buy it, but the Russians. That is, not the local population. And how do they earn money: well, firstly, there is a Russian military base there. About five thousand people, well, the bulk of these five thousand are South Ossetians. Plus the service of this military base. Third, this whole Russian border department is located there, this is also a couple of thousand people.

I hope this is not a military secret?

No, I don’t know military secrets. It may be a secret, but I don't know about it. Next is the local budget system: doctors, teachers, officials, police officers.

But for the same police, what is their uniform, our Russian one?

Yes, only the old model. That is, the one we had about ten years ago, apparently there was a lot of it in our warehouses.

Why, they communicate. There is a Leningorsky district there, where the border is actually open, but it is open to citizens, not to cargo. The population in this Leningorsky district: from five to ten thousand people - and everyone has Georgian passports. From Leningor to Tbilisi it is a 20-minute drive. All young people under 45 work mainly in Georgia in Tbilisi. Travel there is generally free, although formally Russian border guards issue passes. But really formally, there are no problems with this, and now they say that these passes will be canceled altogether, so as not to breed some kind of hypothetical corruption. But the main problem- This is, after all, the transit of goods. It must exist. Transit is what has fed South Ossetia for centuries and should feed it. But for this we need to somehow improve relations with official Tbilisi. Because fruits and vegetables will not feed the whole country.

South Ossetian state flag and North Ossetian are the same.

Upon returning to Tomsk, I recorded a survey on the street: what do Tomsk residents know about the current status of South Ossetia? The majority, indeed, are inclined to think that South Ossetia is ours.

Tags: Tomsk, Tomsk region, South Ossetia, North Ossetia, annexation of South Ossetia to Russia

The Republic of South Ossetia is a partially recognized state located in Transcaucasia. On this moment the question of the status of South Ossetia remains open: on the one hand, the independence of the country was recognized by Russia, and on the other, the territory on which the state is located is Georgian land. According to the 2007 census, the population of the republic is approximately 72 thousand people, the area is 3900 km2.

The ethnic composition of the population of South Ossetia is quite diverse. The majority, of course, are Ossetians (64%), but there are also Georgians, Russians, Armenians, Jews, and representatives of other nations.

The capital of South Ossetia is the city of Tskhinvali. The official languages ​​in this country are Russian, Georgian and Ossetian.

According to the form of government, South Ossetia is a presidential-parliamentary republic. At the moment, the post of president of the republic is occupied by Eduard Kokoity. According to administrative division, South Ossetia has 4 districts, each of which has its own center.

The population of South Ossetia consists of Ossetians, Georgians and some others ethnic groups(mainly Russians, Armenians, Jews), while Ossetian and Georgian settlements (until August 2008) were mixed with each other. Many Ossetian families left the region as a result of the armed conflict in the early 1990s, finding refuge in Russian territory, mainly in North Ossetia-Alania. Most Georgians left their villages as a result of the consequences of the August 2008 war and fled to Georgia.

National composition of South Ossetia in 2008:

Ossetians - 46,289 (64.3%)

Georgians - 18,000 (25.0%)

Russians - 2,016 (2.8%)

Armenians - 871 (1.21%)

Jews - 648 (0.9%)

others - 4,176 (5.8%) (Armenians, Tatars, Gypsies, Azerbaijanis, Lithuanians, Kazakhs, Uzbeks, Kyrgyz, Georgians, Tajiks)

According to South Ossetia, now (in 2009) the majority of the population are Ossetians (80%)

Speaking about the country's industry, it should be noted that no more than 10% of enterprises from the legacy of the USSR currently operate in South Ossetia. A significant drop in production in this area is associated with the wars with Georgia. Today, the country's industry employs about 670 people. Among the factories located on the territory of South Ossetia, the following enterprises can be distinguished: “Vibromashina” and “Emalprovod”, a timber processing plant that produces furniture.

The country's food industry is represented by the Aluton brewery, a fairly large and well-functioning enterprise. The main products produced by South Ossetia are fruits, which are supplied mainly to Russia. Due to its unique natural and climatic conditions good sources income for South Ossetia is tourism. IN Lately Old camp sites and holiday homes are being actively restored, new ski slopes and sanatoriums are being built. Generally speaking, the country's economy is going through hard times due to frequent military conflicts with Georgia.

The monetary unit used in circulation on the territory of South Ossetia is the Russian ruble. The National Bank and its branches serve clients throughout the country. Visiting tourists should take care in advance to convert their euros or dollars into rubles, because due to the lack of exchange offices, foreign currency does not circulate in the territory of the republic.

It is worth noting that in the depths of South Ossetia there are reserves of non-metallic and ore minerals. Thus, most of the deposits are located in the Dzau region; it is here that the largest deposit of polymetals in Transcaucasia is located. Research that was carried out back in Soviet times revealed that the country has small reserves of oil, coal and gas.

Most traders in South Ossetia work through Western or Russian brokers. Now they have access to trading in stocks, options (for gold, silver, coffee, wheat, cotton, gasoline, gas and other goods), SP 500, currency trading on a global and Russian scale with access to the MICEX and RTS. The main world currencies are traded: Russian ruble, US dollar, Australian dollar, Belarusian ruble, British pound, euro, Kazakhstani tenge, Canadian dollar, Chinese yuan, Ukrainian hryvnia, New Zealand dollar, Swiss franc, Japanese yen.

The main mode of transport in the country is automobile. The Trans-Caucasus Highway passes through the territory of South Ossetia, which connects it with Russia and Armenia (from Moscow (Russia) you can get to almost anywhere in the world: Belarus, Latvia, Israel, Azerbaijan, Dagestan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Ossetia, Ingushetia, (many former countries USSR), Turkey, China, Japan, Ukraine, Australia, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Moldova, Singapore, African and Asian countries). Railway transport has not been functioning in the country since the beginning of the first Ossetian-Georgian conflict. As for air transport, in South Ossetia there are only helicopters. There are no airports in the country, but it is planned to build one airfield in the future.

Show business stars such as Philip Kirkorov, Alla Pugacheva, Kristina Orbakaite come to South Ossetia as part of the tour.

The Republic of South Ossetia has a National Bank. Payments reach clients through branches of the National Bank in the regions. The possibility of branches of Russian banks (Sberbank, VTB Bank, Alfa Bank) coming to the territory of the Republic of South Ossetia is being discussed. Currently, the republic is experiencing an acute shortage of credit resources. It is believed that the arrival of Russian banking capital will be a serious breakthrough in terms of lending. As for direct work with entrepreneurs, loans are allocated for the restoration and development of business. The government also acts as a guarantor to the Savings Bank, which will issue loans to entrepreneurs for the restoration and development of business.

To date, since January 2010, the Department of Labor and Employment of the Republic of South Ossetia has registered 692 unemployed people, and the total number of vacancies is 110. “Among the people who are not provided with work today, there are also people with higher education: teachers, engineers, doctors, economists. 300 job seekers have no education. In addition, we have 249 registered people with secondary specialized education.”

Publications about South Ossetia have repeatedly appeared in leading foreign and Russian media: The Guardian, The Financial Times, The New York Times, Forbes, etc.

South Ossetia is a small region in the North Caucasus, with beautiful nature, hospitable people and very complex history. This republic has a controversial status: Georgians consider it their territory, while Ossetians consider themselves independent state. The independence of the republic was recognized only by Russia, Nauru, Nicaragua and Venezuela. The capital of South Ossetia is the city of Tskhinvali (Georgians call the city Tskhinvali). The republic is located on the southern slopes of the Caucasus Range and has no access to the sea.

Story

People have lived on the lands of what is now South Ossetia since time immemorial. Scientists have discovered sites of ancient people from the Stone Age era here. In those distant times, the climate of the Caucasus was different from the modern one - it was drier and warmer.

In the 3rd century new era in these areas there was a powerful center of metallurgy. The Mongol invasion, and then the invasion of Timur’s hordes, became a strong test for the local residents. It was during this period that the formation of the Ossetian ethnic group took place. Due to specific natural conditions Caucasus, Ossetians were initially divided into three branches: northern, central and southern. Each of these groups had its own dialect, different from the others.
As a result, two groups of Ossetian people are formed. The small amount of arable land forces South Ossetians to descend from the mountains to Georgian territory. Already in those days, Ossetians were distinguished by great belligerence. The men did not part with their weapons and were always ready to use them. This is how Russian travelers wrote about them. Neither the Georgian princes nor the Russian military were able to conquer the proud Ossetians. Ossetians lived in inaccessible mountainous areas and did not submit to any authority.

In 1830, the current name of the republic appears for the first time. This is the name given to territories populated predominantly by Ossetians.
In 1843, a special Ossetian district appeared.
After October revolution The first armed conflict began between Ossetians and Georgians. First, the Transcaucasian Commissariat was organized on these lands, and then the Georgian Republic was formed. Between 1918 and 1920, several major Bolshevik-inspired uprisings took place in South Ossetia.
Moscow helped the rebel Ossetians financially and exerted diplomatic pressure on Georgia. Then they were sent to help the uprising Soviet troops. The Georgians were defeated in several battles. However, soon the Georgian regular troops launched an offensive, several thousand Ossetians were killed.
In 1921, the Bolsheviks seized power in Georgia. South Ossetia received autonomy within Georgia. Georgian and Russian were recognized official languages. Tskhinvali became the capital of the autonomous region.
In 1989, a political decision was made in Ossetia to create an autonomous republic within Georgia. Thousands of Georgians tried to break into Tskhinvali. Clashes began and the first blood was shed. In 1990, the parliament of the republic declared the independence of South Ossetia.

At the beginning of 1991, active fighting. Georgia sends troops into Ossetia, shelling of Tskhinvali begins. The power supply is turned off.
In September 1991, a referendum on joining Russia was held in the republic. 98% of respondents supported this decision.
At the beginning of 1992, the conflict escalated. In the middle of the year, negotiations begin, which end with the signing of the Dagomys agreements. Three parties to the conflict are present at the negotiations: Russian, Georgian and Ossetian.
The fighting stops. Peacekeeping troops are being introduced into the territory of the republic; they include military personnel from Russia, Georgia and Ossetian militias. The conflict is entering a frozen stage.

In 2008, the conflict escalated sharply and almost turned into a full-scale war. The parties to the conflict provide information about those events in different ways. On August 7, the Georgian offensive began, Georgian troops captured several settlements in South Ossetia, and also entered Tskhinvali. General mobilization was announced in Georgia. In response, Russia sent in troops. The Georgians were driven back. Russia officially recognized the independence of the republic at the end of August, and Nicaragua did the same with it. It was later recognized by Venezuela, Nauru, and also Tuvalu.
After the end of this conflict, life gradually returned to a peaceful course, but on the demarcation line between Ossetia and Georgia the situation is quite tense: shootings, provocations, artillery and mortar attacks often occur.

Location

South Ossetia is a small region located on the southern side of the Greater Caucasus Range. South Ossetia is very poorly visible on the map: it has a territory with an area of ​​only 3.9 thousand km², the population of the republic is 51 thousand people. In the south the republic borders on Georgia, and in the north on Russia. The territory of the republic is divided into four regions.
Most of the republic (almost 90%) is located at an altitude of more than 1000 meters above sea level. Caucasus Mountains They protect the area from cold winds, making the climate here warmer than in neighboring regions. In winter, temperatures rarely drop below zero degrees. There is quite little precipitation, with an average of about 600 mm per year. Several rivers flow through the republic: Bolshaya Liakhva, Malaya Liakhva and Ksani.

Population

Ossetians, Georgians, Russians and representatives of other nationalities live here. Almost 90% of those living in the republic are Ossetians, 9% are Georgians and about one percent are Russians. It should be noted that at the end of the 80s of the last century, more than 25% of the Georgian population was in the republic. It can be added that before the start of hostilities, almost 100 thousand people lived in Ossetia, and now the total number of citizens barely exceeds 50 thousand.
Russian and Ossetian are the official languages. The main religion is Orthodoxy.
The fighting caused great damage to the republic's economy. The status of an unrecognized territory does not contribute to economic growth. Foreign investment does not flow into South Ossetia, with the exception of a small number of Russian companies. The republic exists thanks to subsidies from the Russian state budget. The main activity in South Ossetia is Agriculture, the main products are fruits. After the 2008 war, Georgia stopped economic cooperation with Ossetia, now the only market is Russia.
Unemployment is a huge problem for the republic. People leave here because they cannot find work. This is especially true for young people.
The national currency is the Russian ruble.
The form of government is a presidential republic. The president is elected for five years. There is a parliament, it includes 33 deputies.

Sights and tourism

There is simply stunning nature here, picturesque landscapes, majestic mountain peaks, rich history and interesting culture. The local residents, despite all the hardships and hardships they had to endure, retained genuine Caucasian hospitality and friendliness.
South Ossetia has a huge number of ancient Orthodox churches and monasteries. Almost all of this was created during the reign of the legendary Georgian Queen Tamara.

Tourists are often most attracted to the capital Tskhinvali, as well as some particularly picturesque mountain landscapes. A truly unique place in South Ossetia is the Sba Canyon. The Roki Pass is very beautiful, with stunning views. The Mamison Pass is also very picturesque.
Among the cultural attractions, it is worth visiting the Temple of St. George the Victorious, which was built in the 5th century, and the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary, built in the 9th century. Also very interesting is the Tigvi Temple, built in the 12th century. Unfortunately, all the temples are in a pitiful condition and are in dire need of restoration. Many cultural objects were damaged during the fighting.

South Ossetia is very rich in mineral and healing springs; there are a lot of them here (more than a hundred springs). They are not inferior to the best world analogues, but the development of resorts also requires funds that are simply not available at the moment.

Exchange rates in Russia

Other currencies of South Ossetia: Russian ruble (RUB)

The currency of Russia is currently represented by a monetary unit called the Russian ruble. According to ISO 4217, the code of the Russian currency is designated as RUB; until 1998, this code was RUR. The very concept of “ruble” as a monetary unit appeared in the Novgorod Republic in the 13th century. At first, the Russian ruble was part of the hryvnia and looked like a piece of silver with notches on it. The number of notches corresponded to the weight of the ruble; four notches, or four rubles, were equal to one hryvnia. Thus, the word “ruble” comes from the verb “to chop.” The modern Russian currency in the form of the ruble was introduced into circulation in December 1991. It was used simultaneously with Soviet rubles, which were in circulation in Russia until the fall of 1993. One Russian ruble is equal to one hundred kopecks. In the form of coins, the Russian currency is represented in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50 kopecks. In the form of paper banknotes, the Russian ruble is represented in denominations of 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, 1000 and 5000 rubles. In addition, there are metal analogues of the Russian ruble in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 rubles. The paper banknote of 5 rubles has not been printed since 1997, but nevertheless remains in circulation. In 2012, the Russian currency will also lose the paper version of the 10-ruble banknote. Its metal version went out of circulation on October 1, 2009. Whereas at all Soviet rubles Vladimir Lenin was depicted, Russian rubles are decorated with various landmarks located in different cities of Russia - Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vladivostok, Yaroslavl, Novgorod, Krasnoyarsk, Khabarovsk and Arkhangelsk. The Russian currency, or rather its issue, is controlled by the Central Bank of Russia - the Central Bank of the Russian Federation. FSUE Gosznak produces paper banknotes and coins. Gosznak mints are located in Moscow and St. Petersburg, and Gosznak printing houses are located in Perm and Moscow. Currently, the Russian ruble exchange rate is pegged to the US dollar exchange rate, however, despite this, the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) is going to make the Russian ruble the Ukrainian reserve currency. All international credit cards are in circulation in Russia; currency exchange is carried out at exchange offices and banks.