Java, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Java or Dzau is a town of approximately 1,500 people in South Ossetia
. According to Georgia's current official administrative division, Java is a main town of Java district
in the north of Shida Kartli
region. According to the South Ossetian side Dzau is an administrative center of Dzau district
. The town is situated on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus
, within the Greater Liakhvi Gorge, 1040 m (3,412 ft) above sea level.
Java is the second largest urban settlement in South Ossetia, after Tskhinvali
. It is located outside the OSCE-defined boundaries of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict
zone – an area within a 15-km radius of Tskhinvali.
The town played a major role in the 2008 South Ossetia war
, with most of the South Ossetian military forces
being located there at the time of the Georgian offensive. During the Battle of Tskhinvali
, the government of South Ossetia relocated to Java.
Georgia had accused the Russian military of building a large military base in Java before the war. These concerns were brought by the President of Georgia
, Mikheil Saakashvili
, to the attention of the U.N. General Assembly on September 26, 2007. After the war, Russia announced it was constructing military bases in Java and Tskhinvali
, which would be ready in 2010.
South Ossetia
South Ossetia or Tskhinvali Region is a disputed region and partly recognized state in the South Caucasus, located in the territory of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast within the former Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic....
. According to Georgia's current official administrative division, Java is a main town of Java district
Java district, Georgia
Java is a district of Georgia, in the region of Shida Kartli. The entire district is located in the Republic of South Ossetia and has not been under control of Georgian government since 1992...
in the north of Shida Kartli
Shida Kartli
Shida Kartli is a region in Georgia. It consists of the following districts: Gori, Kaspi, Kareli, Java, Khashuri.The northern part of the region, namely Java, and northern territories of Kareli and Gori, is controlled by the authorities of the self-proclaimed republic of South Ossetia since...
region. According to the South Ossetian side Dzau is an administrative center of Dzau district
Dzau district
Dzau district is a district in South Ossetia. Dzau district is situated in the territory Oni district and Java district of Georgia.The district is located Roki tunnel, Mamison Pass, Transcaucasian Highway, Ossetian Military Road and the lake Ertso area of 0.41 km²....
. The town is situated on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus
Greater Caucasus
Greater Caucasus , sometimes translated as "Caucasus Major", "Big Caucasus" or "Large Caucasus") is the major mountain range of the Caucasus Mountains....
, within the Greater Liakhvi Gorge, 1040 m (3,412 ft) above sea level.
Java is the second largest urban settlement in South Ossetia, after Tskhinvali
Tskhinvali
Tskhinvali , is the capital of South Ossetia, a disputed region which has been recognised as an independent Republic by Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Nauru, and is regarded by Georgia and the rest of the world as part of the Shida Kartli region within Georgian sovereign territory.It is located...
. It is located outside the OSCE-defined boundaries of the Georgian-Ossetian conflict
Georgian-Ossetian conflict
The Georgian–Ossetian conflict refers to the ethno-political conflict in Georgia's autonomous region of South Ossetia, which evolved in 1989 and developed into a 1991–1992 South Ossetia War. Despite a declared ceasefire and numerous peace efforts, the conflict remains unresolved, and minor armed...
zone – an area within a 15-km radius of Tskhinvali.
The town played a major role in the 2008 South Ossetia war
2008 South Ossetia war
The 2008 South Ossetia War or Russo-Georgian War was an armed conflict in August 2008 between Georgia on one side, and Russia and separatist governments of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on the other....
, with most of the South Ossetian military forces
Military of South Ossetia
The Military of South Ossetia is the military of the breakaway republic of South Ossetia, whose independence is recognized by Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Nauru but whom Georgia considers to be a Russian-Occupied Territory...
being located there at the time of the Georgian offensive. During the Battle of Tskhinvali
Battle of Tskhinvali
The Battle of Tskhinvali was a fight for the city of Tskhinvali, capital of South Ossetia. It was the only major battle in the 2008 South Ossetia War. Georgian ground troops entered the city on early 8 August 2008, after an extensive artillery barrage. Their advance was stopped by South Ossetian...
, the government of South Ossetia relocated to Java.
Georgia had accused the Russian military of building a large military base in Java before the war. These concerns were brought by the President of Georgia
President of Georgia
The President of Georgia is the head of state, supreme commander-in-chief and holder of the highest office within the Government of Georgia. Executive power is split between the President and the Prime Minister, who is the head of government...
, Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili is a Georgian politician, the third and current President of Georgia and leader of the United National Movement Party.Involved in the national politics since 1995, Saakashvili became president on 25 January 2004 after President Eduard Shevardnadze resigned in a November 2003...
, to the attention of the U.N. General Assembly on September 26, 2007. After the war, Russia announced it was constructing military bases in Java and Tskhinvali
Tskhinvali
Tskhinvali , is the capital of South Ossetia, a disputed region which has been recognised as an independent Republic by Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Nauru, and is regarded by Georgia and the rest of the world as part of the Shida Kartli region within Georgian sovereign territory.It is located...
, which would be ready in 2010.