South Ossetia

South Ossetia is a region in the South Caucasus that declared independence from Georgia in the early 1990s. It has a predominantly Ossetian population and considers itself an independent state, recognized by a few countries, but most of the world views it as part of Georgia. The area has experienced conflict, most notably the 2008 Russo-Georgian war, leading Russia to recognize South Ossetia's independence, though Georgia and many other nations do not. The region remains a tense geopolitical area, with ongoing disputes over its status and governance.