As a result of the August war of 2008, the demographic situation in South Ossetia has been
entirely altered. After the Georgian authorities lost administrative-territorial control over
the Didi and Patara Liakhvi gorges and Akhalgori district, the majority of the population of
these territories, including the entire population of Didi and Patara Liakhvi, were forced to
leave their homes. The demographic structure of districts adjoining the conflict zones was
also affected. As of September 2008, internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the conflict
zone (including districts of Shida Kartli) numbered more than 127,000 in total.1
After the
ceasefire agreement between Russia and Georgia was signed and Russian troops removed
from the region, a large number of those forcibly displaced outside the administrative
borders of the former autonomous region of South Ossetia returned home. However, the
entire ethnic Georgian population of Didi and Patara Liakhvi, as well as several thousand
Georgians from Akhalgori districts, remain displaced. The Ministry of Refugees and
Accommodation of Georgia has granted them the status of IDPs and housed them in 38
specially constructed cottage settlements. According to official figures from the Ministry of
Refugees and Accommodation, the number of IDPs from the August war (excluding those
displaced from Upper Abkhazia) currently stands at 24,729.2
After the August war various mass media both in Georgia and abroad reported widely on
the oppression of Ossetians and their eviction from their settlements, giving rise to much
political speculation. The circulation of various contradictory accounts prompted ECMI to
study this issue and conduct research that would provide answers to pressing questions
about the influence of the August war on Georgian-Ossetian relations, how the
demographic balance has changed in Ossetian-populated regions of Georgia, what
demographic and migratory patterns prevail in the current political circumstances and how
the August War affected the conditions of Ossetians in Georgia. In the initial stage of
research we had planned to study interethnic relations in various regions of Shida Kartli
adjoining the conflict zone. However, as the project developed, we expanded the
geographical area to include all regions of Georgia where according to the most recent
census (conducted in 2002), ethnic Ossetian populations reside. In addition to helping meet
the goals outlined above, this also gave us the opportunity to define approximate numerical data on Ossetians by village and compare them to the data of the 2002 census. A map based
on this latest data showing the current settlement of Ossetians in Georgia can be found as
an annex to this paper (see Annex 3). We were also able to assess the level of integration of
Ossetians in Georgia according to such criteria as knowledge of the Georgian language,
knowledge of their mother tongue, self-identification, and family name endings (Ossetian
or Russian). This and other information is structurally presented in a special table as an
annex to this paper (see Annex 1). This paper is thus concerned with the current situation of
the Ossetian population in Georgia proper and leaves aside questions of historical context.3

The research was conducted during the period November 2008 – June 2009. The research
results are entirely based on information gathered during field trips. Such trips were
conducted to all regions populated by Ossetians, including purely Ossetian villages, mixed
population villages (Georgian-Ossetian, Georgian-Ossetian-Azeri) and adjoining Georgian
and Azeri villages. A total of 46 villages were visited, namely, Kveda Shavshvebi,
Tsitelubani, Didi Khurvaleti, Tedotsminda, Variani, Agaiani, Sakadagiano, Gamdlistskaro,
Kvemo Rene, Karapila, Natsreti, Karaleti, Tkviavi, Kere, Brotsleti, Ergneti, Kvemo Nikozi,
Zemo Nikozi, Kintsvisi, Zguderi, Elbakiani, Takhtisdziri, Dvani, Tvaurebi, Khviti, Goraka,
Vake, Pantiani (Shida Kartli Region); Pichkhovani, Argokhi, Jugaani, Tsitsikaantseri,
Kitaani, Areshperani, Pona (Kakheti Region); Kodistskaro, Kvemo Shuakhevi, Zemo
Shuakhevi, Tsitsamuri, Karkushaani, Akhali Burguli, Dzveli Burguli, Lamovani, Kobi and
Okrokana (Mtskheta-Mtianeti Region); Didi Mitarbi (Samtskhe-Javakheti Region).
A total of 250 persons were individually interviewed in the course of research. In addition
five discussions were conducted in focus groups in the villages of Areshperani,
Pichkhovani, Tsitelubani, Elbakiani and Zemo Shuakhevi. In order to define areas of field
work in the early stages of research, relevant statistical information was obtained from the
Department of Statistics about the resettlement and numbers of Ossetians in Georgia. Based on this data, targeted villages were selected according to different criteria: targeted villages
included purely Ossetian, mixed Ossetian-Georgian, mixed Ossetian-Azeri, purely
Georgian and purely Azeri villages. Informants from villages were selected randomly,
subject to a minimum of five persons from each village, with different age and gender
groups.