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Unsolved case

Dzari Tragedy

On 20 May 1992, a convoy of ethnic Ossetian refugees was stopped and shot at point-blank range on the road through Dzari near Tskhinvali, South Ossetia, killing an estimated 33 to 36 people, mostly children, women, and the elderly.

UNSOLVED1992

Dzari, near Tskhinvali, South Ossetia, Georgia

3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

Overview

The Dzari Tragedy, also known as the Zar Tragedy or the Shooting on the Zar road, refers to a mass killing of ethnic Ossetian refugees that occurred on 20 May 1992 in the administrative territory of Dzari, located near the central city of Tskhinvali in Georgia's break-away South Ossetia region.

The Attack

A convoy carrying refugees who were fleeing South Ossetia was stopped on the road through Dzari.

The convoy was then fired upon at point-blank range using machine guns. The victims killed in the attack were described as mostly children, women, and the elderly. Estimates of the death toll vary between sources, ranging from 33 to 36 people killed as a result of the shooting.

Context

The attack took place during a period of conflict involving South Ossetia's break-away status from Georgia.

Investigative and Legal Status

The case is documented as an unresolved mass killing.

Key facts

Victims
On file
Date
1992
Location
Dzari, near Tskhinvali, South Ossetia, Georgia
Case status
unsolved

Case timeline

  1. 1992-05-20

    A convoy of ethnic Ossetian refugees was stopped on the road through Dzari, near Tskhinvali, South Ossetia, and shot at point-blank range with machine guns, killing an estimated 33 to 36 people, mostly children, women, and the elderly.

Best coverage

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People

No public people records are attached yet.

Places

Dzari, near Tskhinvali, South Ossetia, Georgia

42.2000, 44.0000

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
On 20 May 1992, a convoy of ethnic Ossetian refugees was stopped and shot at point-blank range on the road through Dzari near Tskhinvali, South Ossetia, killing an estimated 33 to 36 people, mostly children, women, and the elderly.
Where did the crime happen?
Dzari, near Tskhinvali, South Ossetia, Georgia.
What is the current status of the case?
Status: unsolved.
More cases in Georgia

Sources

  1. ENCYCLOPEDICDzari TragedyWikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — russia-today.rurussia-today.ru · 2026-07-07
  3. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — qartli.geqartli.ge · 2026-07-07

Record history

First published
JUL 07, 2026

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