Authorities from South Ossetia have described life conditions in the republic as harsh. Spokeswoman for the Republic's government, Irina Gagloyeva, has said that 90% of the buildings destroyed during last summer war have not been reconstructed and that economic help from Russia has not yet arrived. A South Ossetian high official has also complained about Georgia's irregular distribution of gas to the break-away republic.

Boris Chochiev, the Plenipotentiary of South Ossetian President on post-conflict settlement, has denied that Georgia has reestablished regular gas supply last January: 'They want the international community to believe it, but it's not true. They have only supplied gas at a normal pressure for one day. They think that's enough to show the supposedly "Georgian goodwill"'.

Chochiev's declarations are just an example of the anti-Georgian South Ossetian rhetoric, but what Gagloyeva expressed has come as a surprise. The chief spokeswoman of the South Ossetian government said to Reuters that "rebuilding" of the republic has not started yet and that prospects for rehabilitation commencing in March have failed. Gagloyeva said "the financial crisis is having a serious effect on a lot of financing of projects," and also reminded that "thousands of people" are houseless or living in buildings severely damaged by bombs from last August. It is unusual that South Ossetian authorities openly criticize Kremlin's inaction.

Moscow promises 62 million €
According to RIA Novosti agency, the Russian government announced just yesterday that it will provide the Caucasian republic with almost 62 million euros in respect of "financial aid". Moscow has assured that despite there were cuts in the federal budget due to the economic crisis, the volume of financial assistance to the republic in 2009 would remain as originally planned.

Close ties between South Ossetia and the Russian Federation will not only be confined to economic assistance. According to Interfax agency, the president of the Caucasian republic, Eduard Kokoity, said a few days ago that his country will cede Russia some territory to build a military base which Russian troops will be able to use for 99 years.

Russia and Nicaragua are the only two countries that have recognized the independence of South Ossetia. Belarus might soon be the third one, although lately it has been under EU pressure not to do so.

Pictures of Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia (photos by Dmitrij Steshin).

Further information:

• Courrier International: Moscou suspend les travaux de reconstruction
• International Herald Tribune: Rebuilding comes slowly in South Ossetian capital
• Charter 97: Javier Solana urges Lukashenka not to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia
• Nationalia: Putin keen to blur the boundaries between Russia and South Ossetia, The conflict in Georgia: a chronology