South Ossetia: The Burden of Recognition

All parties involved in the South Ossetia conflict should work to ensure freedom of movement and other basic cooperative mechanisms without status or other political preconditions, so as to reduce the risk of instability and meet basic local needs.

South Ossetia: The Burden of Recognition, a report from the International Crisis Group, is based on extensive field research in the isolated entity. It examines economic, political and security situation and the extent of dominance from Moscow, especially since the August 2008 war between Georgia and Russia. Only four countries, including Russia, have recognised the tiny breakaway territory that Crisis Group found enjoys no more independence than it did before the conflict

All other countries consider South Ossetia an integral part of Georgia, and its prospects for true independence are poor. The war dealt a heavy physical, economic, demographic and political blow. The permanent population – shrinking since the early 1990’s – now is unlikely to be much more than 30,000. Due to corruption, the $840 million Russia has so far contributed has not significantly improved local conditions. With traditional trading routes to the rest of Georgia closed, the economy has been reduced to little more than a service provider for the Russian military and construction personnel.

'Recognition of South Ossetia as an independent state actually has consolidated its dependence', says Lawrence Sheets, Crisis Group’s Caucasus Project Director. 'Since 2008, South Ossetia’s situation closely mirrors that of Russia’s North Caucasus republics with 99 per cent of its budget and half its government staff coming from Russia'.

In violation of the 2008 ceasefire accords, Russia keeps excess troops in the region and blocks virtually all access to international organisations, including the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM). It should fully implement its international commitments and encourage the Ossetians to engage with Georgian authorities on issues including free movement of people and goods, security and step-by-step return of the approximately 20,000 ethnic Georgians who remain displaced.

To avoid turning South Ossetia into a “no man’s land”, all sides should focus on the population’s practical needs and grievances. Moscow should put strict controls on its financial transfers and tackle corruption and human rights violations by local authorities. International organisations should continue or renew contacts with the de facto local authorities and civil society and keep engaging with Russia and Georgia on South Ossetia.

Georgia should look for ways to engage with Ossetians by actively supporting free movement and small-scale economic activity for locals across the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL), as well as encourage the EU, UN, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and other bodies to develop initiatives to loosen South Ossetian dependence on Russia.

“It will take a long time to rebuild any trust between the Ossetians and Georgians”, said Sabine Freizer, Crisis Group’s Europe Program Director. “Only the example of a prosperous and democratic state, responsive to human rights issues in the breakaway regions and the grievances of its national minorities, may eventually encourage South Ossetians to regain trust in Georgia”.

ESO: Background information: Conflict history: Georgia http://www.europeansources.info/record/website-georgia-2/

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