The so-called “Central Election Commission” of the occupied Tskhinvali/South Ossetia has approved the registration of four candidates, including acting de facto leader Marat Kambolov, to run in the early “presidential elections” scheduled for September 18.
The early vote was called following the June resignation of former de facto president Alan Gagloev, who moved to Russia to serve as Putin’s adviser. Kambolov, a North Ossetian-born former Russia official with no prior links to the region, who had been appointed the region’s “prime minister” a week before Gagloev’s resignation, assumed the role of an interim leader.
Several local political groups joined the initiative group to nominate Kambolov’s candidacy to run in the “presidential vote,” with Russian President Vladimir Putin separately endorsing Kambolov in a Moscow meeting.
Three other candidates include:
- Kazbeg Kodoev, rector’s advisor at “South Ossetian State University” on security issues, nominated by an initiative group
- Zurab Kokoev, head of the “Unity” party, former acting de facto government head of Tskhinvali/South Ossetia
- Murat Valiev, Tskhinvali’s “State Guard Service” employee, nominated by the “Patriots of Alania” party
One candidate, Khokh Chochiev, was denied registration, with the de facto Central Election Commission citing an insufficient number of valid signatures, violations in the collection and submission of signatures and documents, and the failure to provide proof of proficiency in the “state language.”
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