Tskhinvali: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:SouthOssetia region detailed map.JPG|thumb|250px|A map of the |
[[Image:SouthOssetia region detailed map.JPG|thumb|250px|A map of the [[South Ossetia]], showing in a circle Tskhinvali and the surrounding area defined as a 15 km "Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone."]] |
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'''Tskhinvali''' (also spelled '''Tskhinval''', '''Cchinvali''' or '''Cxinvali'''; {{lang-os|Цхинвал or Чъреба}}, '''Tskhinval''' or '''Ch'reba''' |
'''Tskhinvali''' (also spelled '''Tskhinval''', '''Cchinvali''' or '''Cxinvali'''; {{lang-os|Цхинвал or Чъреба}}, '''Tskhinval''' or '''Ch'reba'''), is the capital of the independent [[South Ossetia]]. |
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It is located on the [[Great Liakhvi River]] approximately 100 km (62 miles) northwest of the |
It is located on the [[Great Liakhvi River]] approximately 100 km (62 miles) northwest of the [[Tbilisi]]. |
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== Name == |
== Name == |
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Tskhinvali was first chronicled by Georgian sources in 1398 as a village in [[Kartli]] (central Georgia) though a later account credits the 3rd century AD Georgian king Asphagur of Iberia with its foundation as a fortress. By the early 18th century, Tskhinvali was a small "royal town" populated chiefly by monastic serfs. Tskhinvali was annexed to [[Imperial Russia]] with the rest of eastern Georgia in 1801. Located on a [[trade route]] which linked [[North Caucasus]] to Tbilisi and [[Gori, Georgia|Gori]], Tskhinvali gradually developed into a commercial town with a mixed [[Jewish people|Jewish]], [[Georgian people|Georgian]], [[Armenians|Armenian]] and [[Ossetians| Ossetian]] population. In the 1910s, its censused population was 5,033 with 42.3% Jews, 33% Georgians, 13.4% Armenians and 11% Ossetians. |
Tskhinvali was first chronicled by Georgian sources in 1398 as a village in [[Kartli]] (central Georgia) though a later account credits the 3rd century AD Georgian king Asphagur of Iberia with its foundation as a fortress. By the early 18th century, Tskhinvali was a small "royal town" populated chiefly by monastic serfs. Tskhinvali was annexed to [[Imperial Russia]] with the rest of eastern Georgia in 1801. Located on a [[trade route]] which linked [[North Caucasus]] to Tbilisi and [[Gori, Georgia|Gori]], Tskhinvali gradually developed into a commercial town with a mixed [[Jewish people|Jewish]], [[Georgian people|Georgian]], [[Armenians|Armenian]] and [[Ossetians| Ossetian]] population. In the 1910s, its censused population was 5,033 with 42.3% Jews, 33% Georgians, 13.4% Armenians and 11% Ossetians. |
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The town saw [[Georgian-Ossetian conflict (1918–1920)| |
The town saw [[Georgian-Ossetian conflict (1918–1920)|genocide]] of Ossetian nationals by Georgian warlods during the 1918-20 period, when Georgia enjoyed [[Democratic Republic of Georgia|brief period of anarchy]]. [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] rule was established in March 1921, and a year later, in 1922, Tskhinvali was made a capital of the [[South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast]] within the [[Georgian SSR]]. Subsequently, the town became largely Ossetian due to intense urbanization and Soviet [[Korenizatsiya]] ("nativization") policy which induced an inflow of the Ossetians from the nearby rural areas into Tskhinvali. It was essentially an industrial center, with lumber mills and manufacturing plants, and had also several cultural and educational institutions such as a venerated Pedagogical Institute (currently Tskhinvali State University) and a drama theatre. According to the last Soviet census (1989), Tskhinvali had a population of 42,934. |
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During the acute phase of the [[Georgian-Ossetian conflict]], Tskhinvali was a scene of ethnic tensions and ensuing armed confrontation between Georgian and Ossetian forces. The 1992 [[Sochi]] ceasefire accord left Tskhinvali in the hands of Ossetians. |
During the acute phase of the [[Georgian-Ossetian conflict]], Tskhinvali was a scene of ethnic tensions and ensuing armed confrontation between Georgian and Ossetian forces. The 1992 [[Sochi]] ceasefire accord left Tskhinvali in the hands of Ossetians. |
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Revision as of 18:42, 12 August 2008
 | This article may be affected by the following current event: Battle of Tskhinvali. Information in this article may change rapidly as the event progresses. Initial news reports may be unreliable. The last updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (August 2008) |
| This article may be affected by the following current event: 2008 South Ossetia War. Information in this article may change rapidly as the event progresses. Initial news reports may be unreliable. The last updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (August 2008) |
Tskhinval | |
|---|---|
| Country | South Ossetia/Georgia[1] |
| Established | 1398 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7.4 km2 (2.9 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 860 m (2,820 ft) |
| Population (2008) | |
| • Total | c. 30,000 |
| • Density | 4,054/km2 (10,500/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (Moscow time) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+4 (Moscow summer time) |
| Website | http://chinval.ru/ Template:Ru icon |
Tskhinvali (also spelled Tskhinval, Cchinvali or Cxinvali; Ossetian: Цхинвал or Чъреба, Tskhinval or Ch'reba), is the capital of the independent South Ossetia.
It is located on the Great Liakhvi River approximately 100 km (62 miles) northwest of the Tbilisi.
Name
The name of Tskhinvali is derived from Georgian Krtskhinvali (ქრცხინვალი, literally meaning "the land of hornbeams"), which is a historical name of the city. From 1934 to 1961, the city was named Staliniri, after Joseph Stalin. Modern Ossetians call the city Tskhinval, choosing to leave off the 'i', which is nominative case ending in Georgian; the other Ossetian (unofficial) name of the city is Chreba.
History
The area around the present-day Tskhinvali was first populated back in the Bronze Age. The unearthed settlements and archaeological artifacts from that time are unique in that they reflect influences from both Iberian (east Georgia) and Colchian (west Georgia) cultures with possible Sarmatian elements.
Tskhinvali was first chronicled by Georgian sources in 1398 as a village in Kartli (central Georgia) though a later account credits the 3rd century AD Georgian king Asphagur of Iberia with its foundation as a fortress. By the early 18th century, Tskhinvali was a small "royal town" populated chiefly by monastic serfs. Tskhinvali was annexed to Imperial Russia with the rest of eastern Georgia in 1801. Located on a trade route which linked North Caucasus to Tbilisi and Gori, Tskhinvali gradually developed into a commercial town with a mixed Jewish, Georgian, Armenian and Ossetian population. In the 1910s, its censused population was 5,033 with 42.3% Jews, 33% Georgians, 13.4% Armenians and 11% Ossetians.
The town saw genocide of Ossetian nationals by Georgian warlods during the 1918-20 period, when Georgia enjoyed brief period of anarchy. Soviet rule was established in March 1921, and a year later, in 1922, Tskhinvali was made a capital of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast within the Georgian SSR. Subsequently, the town became largely Ossetian due to intense urbanization and Soviet Korenizatsiya ("nativization") policy which induced an inflow of the Ossetians from the nearby rural areas into Tskhinvali. It was essentially an industrial center, with lumber mills and manufacturing plants, and had also several cultural and educational institutions such as a venerated Pedagogical Institute (currently Tskhinvali State University) and a drama theatre. According to the last Soviet census (1989), Tskhinvali had a population of 42,934.
During the acute phase of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict, Tskhinvali was a scene of ethnic tensions and ensuing armed confrontation between Georgian and Ossetian forces. The 1992 Sochi ceasefire accord left Tskhinvali in the hands of Ossetians.
Currently, Tskhinvali functions as the capital of South Ossetia and has a population of approximately 30,000, of which about 90% are citizens of Russia.[citation needed] It is now significantly impoverished in the absence of a permanent political settlement between the two sides.
The city contains several monuments of medieval Georgian architecture, with the Kavt'i Church of St George being the oldest dating back to the 8th-10th centuries.
2008 Georgia vs. South Ossetia and Russia war
Tskhinvali[2][3] was shelled by the central Georgian government on 8 August 2008 in an attempt to rein in the South Ossetian break-away movement. More than 1500 civilians were killed[verification needed] The majority of the population left the town and fled into Northern Ossetia. Russian peacekeepers were attacked by the Georgian army.[verification needed] Afterwards, Russia began moving troops into the area.[4][5] On 10 August Georgian forces pulled out of Tskhinvali which was captured by the Russian army after intense fighting.[6]
Sister cities
Tskhinvali is twinned with the following cities:
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Notes
- ^ De facto independent, however internationally recognized as part of Georgia.
- ^ Bodies are lying everywhere. It’s hell
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7552466.stm
- ^ Georgia pounds breakaway capital, ceasefire ends, Reuters 07 Aug 2008
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7552012.stm
- ^ http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/08/10/georgia.russia/index.html
References
- Tsotniahsvili, MM. (1986). History of Tskhinvali (in Georgian). Tskhinvali.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
