Mozdok, Republic of North Ossetia–Alania

For other places with the same name, see Mozdok.

Coordinates: 43°45′N 44°39′E / 43.75°N 44.65°E / 43.75; 44.65

Map of the Republic of North Ossetia–Alania, Russia

Mozdok (Russian: Моздо́к; Ossetic: Мæздæг, Mæzdæg) is a town and the administrative center of Mozdoksky District of the Republic of North Ossetia–Alania in southern Russia, located on the left shore of the Terek River, 92 kilometers (57 mi) north of Vladikavkaz, the republic's capital. The name of the town literally means "dense forest" in the Kabardian language. Population: 38,748 (2010 Census preliminary results);^[1] 42,865 (2002 Census);^[2] 38,037 (1989 Census).^[3]

History

Mozdok's name comes from the Adyghe/Circassian language, the Kabardian dialect, and means "the good forest". It was founded in 1759; town status was granted to it in 1785. Prince Potemkin founded the fortress in 1763, settling 517 families of Volga Cossacks in stanitsas around it. Five sotnias formed the Mozodksky Regiment, guarding a line of 80 versts (85 km) along the Terek. Another hundred families were sent from the Don.

In August 1942, it was conquered by German troops during Fall Blau. It was recaptured by the Red Army in January 1943.

In June 2003, a suicide bomber caused havoc in the town, when a bus full of Russian air force personnel was destroyed when it was rammed by the bomber's car. On August 1, 2003, a military hospital in the city was targeted by a suicide bomber driving a large truck bomb. The building was substantially damaged, and over fifty people were killed in the blast. These attacks are just two of a string of attacks on Russian facilities in Mozdok since the start of the Second Chechen War.

Ethnic groups

Ethnic groups in the city (2002 data):

• Russians (62.73%)
• Ossetians (7.66%)
• Armenians (6.12%)
• Kumyks (4.55%)
• Chechens (4.25%)
• Kabardians (3.16%)
• Koreans (2.39%)

References

1. ^ Федеральная служба государственной статистики (Federal State Statistics Service) (2011). "Предварительные итоги Всероссийской переписи населения 2010 года (Preliminary results of the 2010 All-Russian Population Census)" (in Russian). Всероссийская перепись населения 2010 года (All-Russia Population Census of 2010). Federal State Statistics Service. http://www.perepis-2010.ru/results_of_the_census/results-inform.php. Retrieved 2011-04-25. 
2. ^ Федеральная служба государственной статистики (Federal State Statistics Service) (2004-05-21). "Численность населения России, субъектов Российской Федерации в составе федеральных округов, районов, городских поселений, сельских населённых пунктов – районных центров и сельских населённых пунктов с населением 3 тысячи и более человек (Population of Russia, its federal districts, federal subjects, districts, urban localities, rural localities—administrative centers, and rural localities with population of over 3,000)" (in Russian). Всероссийская перепись населения 2002 года (All-Russia Population Census of 2002). Federal State Statistics Service. http://www.perepis2002.ru/ct/doc/1_TOM_01_04.xls. Retrieved 2010-03-23. 
3. ^ "Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 г. Численность наличного населения союзных и автономных республик, автономных областей и округов, краёв, областей, районов, городских поселений и сёл-райцентров. (All Union Population Census of 1989. Present population of union and autonomous republics, autonomous oblasts and okrugs, krais, oblasts, districts, urban settlements, and villages serving as district administrative centers.)" (in Russian). Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 года (All-Union Population Census of 1989). Demoscope Weekly (website of the Institute of Demographics of the State University—Higher School of Economics. 1989. http://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/rus89_reg.php. Retrieved 2010-03-23. 

External links

• (Russian) Mozdok official website
• BBC News mentions bombings
• China Daily comments on the attacks