April 1, 1992
Bloodshed in the Caucasus
Violations of Humanitarian Law and Human Rights in the Georgia-South Ossetia Conflict
Tensions between Georgians and Ossetians began in late 1989 and by 1991 took the form of armed conflict between South Ossetian and Georgian paramilitary groups. At the root of the conflict is South Ossetia's desire to separate from Georgia and be part of Russia. Throughout 1991 Helsinki Watch received alarming reports about human rights violations in the violent conflict.