Russia–South Ossetia relations Russia–South Ossetia relations Russia—South Ossetia relations () refers to the bilateral relationship between Russia and the Georgian breakaway Tskhinvali Region (Former autonomous district of South Ossetia), a disputed region in the South Caucasus, located on the territory of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast within the former Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic. South Ossetia declared its independence from Georgia in 1991 during the Georgian–Ossetian conflict, but the entity remained unrecognised, save by fellow break-away republics Abkhazia and Transnistria. In the aftermath of the conflict Russia extended citizenship to many of South Ossetia's citizens. Following several months of increased tensions in the region,
Foreign relations of South Ossetia August 26, 2008, Russia became the first UN member state to recognize South Ossetia. Russia plans on building an embassy in Tskhinval. On May 29, 2018, Syria became the latest UN member state to recognize South Ossetia. On July 22, 2018, during the state visit of President Anatoly Bibilov to Damascus, South Ossetia and Syria have signed an agreement on establishing diplomatic ties. South Ossetia and Turkey have no official relations. Although, the South Ossetian foreign minister attended a festival of Ossetian culture in Turkey in August 2018. Around 50,000 Ossetians live in Turkey. On September 10, 2009, Venezuela became