The Ossetians are a people group that live primarily in southern Russian and northern Georgia, in the Caucusus mountains. In late 1991 the Georgian region of South Ossetia declared independence, which has been recognized by Russia and a few other nations since 2008. The anthem remains in use solely by the separatist regime, as a region of Georgia, South Ossetia lacks a unique anthem. Adopted on May 5, 1995 by the separatist government, a few years after the original declaration of independence, the music is by Felix Alborov, a member of the Soviet composers during the time that South Ossetia was a part of the USSR, and the lyrics by poet and playwright Totraz Kokaev, a member of the Writers’ Union of Russia.
Special thanks to: Ben Cahoon for some of this information.