North Ossetia marks 230th anniversary of joining Russia

The celebrations of two remarkable dates begin in North Ossetia (a republic in Russia's south) on Saturday.

Central Ossetia, which is divided into South and North Ossetia today, voluntarily became a protectorate of the Russian Empire 230 years ago, in 1774. Ten years later the fortress of Vladikavkaz was founded in the Daryal Gorge.

North Ossetia is located on the northern slope of the Central Caucasian Range and covers the total area of 8,000 square kilometers. The population of the republic is 700,000 people of 98 nationalities. North Ossetia has 24 confessions, spiritual centers and missions.

The celebrations of the two anniversaries will take place on Saturday and Sunday. Over 100 guests of the federal and regional levels will participate in them. The program includes over 30 cultural, sports and entertaining events.

According to Republic's President Alexander Dzasokhov, the people of North Ossetia have always been Russians who cherish their homeland, Ossetia, and the great Fatherland, Russia.

The self-proclaimed Republic of South Ossetia is located on the southern slope of the Central Caucasian Range in Georgian territory. It proclaimed sovereignty after a sharp stage of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict in 1989-1992. Peacekeeping forces were deployed in the republic after that. Today the Georgian-Ossetian tensions are being escalated.

Most Ossetians live in North Ossetia. Many people of South Ossetia were granted the Russian citizenship in the recent years.