The disputed elections took place during a period of extreme ethnic unrest in Georgia during the collapse of the Soviet Union.

In response, Georgia declared martial law, which culminated in the start of the South Ossetian War.

[1] During the early stages of the collapse of the Soviet Union, the government of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast, which, established in 1922, did not want to be part of an independent Georgia due to cultural, linguistic, nationalistic and religious differences, but was set to become part of an independent Georgia due to its status as an autonomous oblast of the Georgian SSR.

The newly "independent" South Ossetia scheduled elections to its Supreme Soviet which were held on 9 December 1990.

[8][1] Russia would initially support Georgia, allowing them to disarm Ossetian militias, and even sending their own troops to help the Georgians take back control of the rebellious province.