TheRepublic ofSouth Ossetia – the State of Alania is apartially recognized state in theSouth Caucasus that declared independence fromGeorgia during theSouth Ossetia War of 1991–92. At the time, theSoviet Union had only just recentlycollapsed in 1991. Since 1991, South Ossetia has soughtrecognition as asovereign state from the international community. South Ossetia isconsidered by most of the international community to be a part of Georgia.

South Ossetia maintains relations with 5United Nations member states and 3 other partially recognized states. These include: Russia, Nauru, Nicaragua, Syria, Venezuela,Abkhazia (also claimed by Georgia), theSahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (self-declared state in thenon-self-governing territory ofWestern Sahara, claimed and administered by Morocco), andTransnistria (claimed by Moldova). South Ossetia was central to theRusso-Georgian War (12 days in August 2008), alongside Abkhazia. Shortly after the war, Russia recognized South Ossetia (26 August 2008), the first UN member state to do so.

TheDonetsk People's Republic and theLuhansk People's Republic arranged mutual recognition with South Ossetia in 2014, but they wereannexed by Russia on 30 September 2022.

Country	Date of recognition	Notes
Iran	—N/a	In July 2019, the South Ossetian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmitry Medoyev said that his country is willing to expand its cooperation with Iran. There are "deep-rooted economic, scientific and cultural ties between Iran and South Ossetian" he added.[1]
Nauru	December 2009	In December 2009, Nauru recognized the independence of South Ossetia. Nauru's foreign minister,Kieren Keke, visited Tskhinvali that year.[2][3] In 2012, theSouth Ossetian Independence Day celebrations were attended by PresidentSprent Dabwido, who delivered a speech at the ceremony.[4] In 2018, a South Ossetian delegation visited Nauru and the country's foreign ministry appointed a New Zealander as a representative in Nauru.[5]
Nicaragua	5 September 2008	Main article:Nicaragua–South Ossetia relations On 5 September 2008, Nicaragua became the second UN member state to recognize South Ossetia.
Russia	26 August 2008	Main article:Russia–South Ossetia relations On 26 August 2008, Russia became the first UN member state to recognize South Ossetia. Russia plans on building an embassy inTskhinvali.[6] South Ossetia has an embassy inMoscow.
Syria	29 May 2018	On 29 May 2018, Syria became the latest UN member state to recognize South Ossetia. On 22 July 2018, during the state visit of PresidentAnatoly Bibilov toDamascus, South Ossetia and Syria have signed an agreement on establishing diplomatic ties.[7][8][9]
Turkey	—N/a	South Ossetia and Turkey have no official relations. In 2019, South Ossetia named a representative for Turkey.[10] In 2020, the representative died. Around 50,000Ossetians live in Turkey.
Tuvalu	19 September 2011–31 March 2014	In 2011, the government of Prime MinisterWilly Telavi recognizedAbkhazia andSouth Ossetia.[11] However, the government of Prime MinisterEnele Sopoaga retracted the recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia on 31 March 2014 when Tuvalu's Foreign MinisterTaukelina Finikaso signed an agreement to establish diplomatic relations with Georgia. Tuvalu's Foreign Minister said that his country supports Georgia's territorial integrity in its international recognized borders.[12][13]
Venezuela	10 September 2009	Main article:South Ossetia–Venezuela relations On 10 September 2009, Venezuela became the third UN member state to recognize South Ossetia.

Country	Date of recognition	Notes
Abkhazia	19 September 2005 or before[note 1]	Main article:Abkhazia–South Ossetia relations Abkhazia and South Ossetia recognized each other's independence on 19 September 2005 or before.[note 1] Abkhazia has an embassy inTskhinvali.
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic	30 September 2010 (de facto)[14][15][16][17][18][19]	On 29 September 2010 the SADR Minister for African Issues Mohamed Yeslem Beyssat said referring to South Ossetia: “Western Sahara de facto recognizes the independence of South Ossetia. Now we have to formalize relations de jure, including the establishment of diplomatic relations".[15] The two states have had various formal and informal contacts.[20]
Transnistria	12 October 1994 or before[note 1]	Representative offices of Transnistria in Abkhazia and South Ossetia have been opened.[21] Representative offices of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in Tiraspol have been opened.

Country	Date of recognition	Notes
Artsakh	17 November 2006[22]–1 January 2024	Artsakh, Abkhazia and South Ossetia mutually recognized each other.[23] Artsakh would cease to exist following anAzerbaijani offensive in 2023.
Donetsk People's Republic	13 May 2015–30 September 2022	Main article:Donetsk People's Republic–South Ossetia relations South Ossetia recognized Donetsk People's Republic on 27 June 2014. Donetsk People's Republic recognized South Ossetia on 13 May 2015. The DPR was annexed by Russia on 30 September 2022. The annexation isinternationally unrecognized.
Luhansk People's Republic	28 January 2015–30 September 2022	After receiving diplomatic recognition from South Ossetia in 2014, theLuhansk People's Republic reciprocated recognition on 28 January 2015.[24] In April 2015, South Ossetia opened the first foreign embassy in Luhansk.[25] The LPR was annexed by Russia on 30 September 2022. The annexation isinternationally unrecognized.

As of March 2009, South Ossetia is a member of one international organization, theCommunity for Democracy and Human Rights.

• Foreign relations of Abkhazia

• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Ossetia Website

• Foreign relations of South Ossetia

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