1991: Collapse of Soviet Union

1992: South Ossetia votes in favour of independence in an unrecognised referendum. Hundreds die in sporadic violence, which continues until June when Russia, Georgia South Ossetia sign an armistice and create tripartite peacekeeping force

1993: South Ossetia drafts its own constitution

2002: unrecognised president Eduard Kokoity asks Moscow to absorb the republic into Russia

2003: Georgian president, Eduard Shevardnadze, is toppled in Rose Revolution

2004: Georgian president Mikhail Saakashvili declares intention to bring breakaway regions of South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Ajaria back into the fold

2006: South Ossetians vote for independence from Tbilisi in an unrecognised referendum. Georgia declares this part of a Russian campaign to stoke war

2007: Talks between Georgia and South Ossetia break down

2008: South Ossetia asks the world to recognise its independence from Georgia

2008: Georgia's bid to join Nato prompts Russia's parliament to urge the Kremlin to recognise the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia

2008: South Ossetia rejects a Georgian power-sharing deal and insists on full independence

2008: Fighting breaks out between Georgian and separatist South Ossetian forces. Georgian and Russian troops clash

(Source: Times archives)

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