14 out of 34 MPs in the self-proclaimed republic of South Ossetia have launched impeachment proceedings against de-facto President Anatoly Bibilov. The corresponding statement was sent to the speaker of the parliament Alan Tadtayev and submitted for consideration to the legal department.
The opposition calls "fears for the national security of South Ossetia" as the main reason for the demand to dismiss the president.
In turn, a representative of the presidential administration called the statement laughable, since it was signed by "a minority of parliamentary deputies, whose goal is to discredit the leadership of the republic and create provocations for the entire pre-election period."
"The impersonal response of the administration to us is a nervous reaction that has no basis. We used our constitutional right, spelt out in the parliament's regulations. Calling it criminal, at least, is wrong," said MP David Sanakoev.
In his opinion, many deputies "did not dare to openly sign," but it is quite possible that they will vote for impeachment.
Sanakoev also noted that the procedure, in any case, cannot yet be completed, because the Constitutional Court has not yet been formed.
The Speaker of the Parliament is to appoint a session soon and a decision will be made at it. Voting will be held in secret. If three-quarters of the deputies vote "for," then the appeal will be sent to the Supreme Court.
The South Ossetian presidential election is due in three months. Speaker of the Parliament Alan Tadtaev said that the date of the upcoming elections will be approved as soon as possible. Bibilov claims that "nothing prevents him from running for president" for a second term.
Regarding Bibilov’s actions, the opposition saw signs of violation of the basic norms of the Constitution including "ensuring the sovereignty and territorial integrity" of South Ossetia. The document refers to the deployment of a Georgian police post in the village of Tsnelisi.
Earlier, the deputies stated that in 2019 Bibilov almost "gave" Georgia more than 200 square kilometres of South Ossetian territory. The oppositionists also disagree with Bibilov's statement that, according to a 1922 decree, the villages of Gujabar, Artseu, Orchosan (Gujabauri, Artsevi, Orchosani) "may end up on the territory of Georgia."
