The Economic Aspect of the Tskhinvali Conflict and the Issue of Settlers

Abstract

The issue of Ossetian tenant settlers, which was linked to economic reasons, is of particular interest for studying the initial phase of the conflict in the Tskhinvali region during 1918–1920. These tenants, who cultivated small plots of land, often became a source of tension due to land shortages and the unclear status of land ownership. The Georgian press and statistical data confirm that land distribution was one of the main causes of unrest.

The first signs of conflict emerged in Tskhinvali after the 1917 Revolution. Ossetian Bolsheviks began to organise and formed a National Council. In January 1918, they officially demanded that all Ossetian-related matters be discussed in consultation with the National Council of South Ossetia. By March, the first conflict had broken out, with key demands centered on land redistribution and the expulsion of nobility.

The subsequent Ossetian uprisings during the period of independence (1919, 1920) were more politically motivated; however, in 1918, the economic motivations were clearly evident. It is worth noting that Ossetians who were economically connected to Georgian society did not take part in the conflict.

Despite the relatively small Ossetian population in Tskhinvali, the city still drew the attention of Ossetian Bolsheviks due to its economic importance – as a trade route connecting the South with the North Caucasus.

These factors – unclear land ownership, economic interests, and political circumstances – contributed to the emergence of the idea of South Ossetian autonomy and the deepening of the conflict.