On March 19, Pavel Dzhioev, a former member of the first convocation of the [de facto] Parliament of [the separatist region of] South Ossetia, highlighted the demographic crisis as one of the region’s most urgent issues.

Dzhioev stated that while houses, schools, and infrastructure are being built, the population continues to decline—a trend that has persisted for decades. He noted that, according to the 2015 census, South Ossetia's population was only 53,000, and over the past eight years, the number has continued to decrease due to both natural attrition and migration.

He emphasized that South Ossetia has faced demographic challenges for over a century, citing historical events such as the “genocide committed by Georgia” in the early 20th century, the devastation of the Great Patriotic War, and the "creeping cultural genocide" during the Soviet period. According to Dzhioev, following the collapse of the USSR, Georgia committed another genocide against the Ossetian people, making the current demographic crisis the most severe in history.

Dzhioev noted that many villages have been abandoned, with the mountainous areas now nearly uninhabited. He expressed particular concern for Kwaisa, which, despite its town status, has seen its population dwindle. He referenced an article from the newspaper Hurzærin, in which a local teacher lamented that their generation might be the last to consider Kwaisa their home, as no children have been born in the town’s hospital for decades.

Reflecting on historical population trends, Dzhioev pointed out that in 1974, the Dzau district had seven secondary schools, eleven eight-year schools, and thirty-six elementary schools, with a total of 3,397 students. At the time, Kvaisinskaya Secondary School alone had 949 students, while Dzau Secondary School had 662. In contrast, as of 2024, Kwaisa has only 223 students, and Dzau has 151. Many schools, including those in Kirov, Ruk, and Kemult, have been forced to close due to a lack of children.

He listed several villages that have been effectively abandoned as a result of school closures, stating that the closure of a school often signals the end of a village itself. While some former residents visit their native villages in the summer, he argued that this does not address the demographic crisis.

Dzhioev stressed that the government must urgently find ways to stabilize and increase the population despite financial constraints. He recalled historical measures, such as the Soviet-era tax on childlessness and the demographic fund organized in the 1990s under Boris Chochiev, which was funded through lotteries. However, he noted that this initiative was not sustained.

He urged the authorities to study and adopt successful demographic policies from other countries, warning that failure to act could lead to a situation where a roll call would suffice instead of a census. He concluded by emphasizing that the demographic issue is not just a social challenge but a matter of national survival and security for South Ossetia.