Population: 70,000

Political Rights: 7
Civil Liberties: 6
Status: Not Free

Ten-Year Ratings Timeline for Year under Review
(Political Rights, Civil Liberties, Status)
Year Under Review2001200220032004200520062007200820092010
Rating7,6,NF7,6,NF7,6NF

2010 Key Developments: South Ossetian president Eduard Kokoity faced criticism in 2010 from both Moscow and residents of Tskhinvali, the territory's capital, due to the slow pace of reconstruction and accusations of corruption since the 2008 war between Georgia and Russia. In April, Kokoity loyalists charged Moscow-backed South Ossetian prime minister Vadim Brovtsev with embezzlement, leading Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin to intervene and defend Brovtsev in late May. Meanwhile, Russia continued to strengthen its grip on the territory throughout the year.

Political Rights: Elections conducted by the separatist authorities are not monitored by independent observers or recognized by the international community. Most ethnic Georgians have either declined to or been unable to participate in such elections. During the May 2009 parliamentary elections, opposition parties reported significant violations, including mishandling of ballot boxes, restrictions on observer access to polling stations, and alleged coercion of voters in favor of Kokoity's supporters. Election laws enacted in 2008 set a 7 percent vote threshold for parties to enter the parliament and required all lawmakers to be elected by proportional representation; the rules helped to substantially reduce opposition representation in 2009. Russia exerts a dominant influence on South Ossetian politics. In August 2009 Kokoity appointed Brovtsev, a Russian businessman, as prime minister and was apparently unable to oust him in May 2010 due to Russian intervention. Corruption is believed to be extensive, particularly in the reconstruction effort following the 2008 conflict. The territory has been linked to extensive smuggling and black-market activities, including the counterfeiting of U.S. currency.

Civil Liberties: South Ossetia's electronic and print media are entirely controlled by separatist authorities, and private broadcasts are prohibited. However, power struggles between Kokoity loyalists and Moscow appear to have provided an opportunity for some journalists to publicly criticize Kokoity on such issues as corruption. The South Ossetian Orthodox Church, which is unrecognized by both the Georgian and Russian Orthodox Churches, continues to operate freely. Several nongovernmental organizations operate in South Ossetia, but at least one that claims to be independent has been linked to the government. All organizations operate under close scrutiny from Tskhinvali. According to an August 2010 Amnesty International report, about 26,000 people, most of them ethnic Georgians, remained displaced from their homes in and around South Ossetia as a result of the 2008 conflict. South Ossetian authorities have barred ethnic Georgians from returning to the territory unless they renounce their Georgian citizenship and accept Russian passports. Russian authorities have prevented ethnic Ossetians from entering Georgia, but travel to Russia is unimpeded.

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