In the second round of the de facto presidential election in South Ossetia on May 8th, according to preliminary results, the leader of the opposition party "Nikhas" Alan Gagloev won with 53.67% of the vote. Anatoly Bibilov, who had been the de facto president until now, congratulated his rival and wished him success.

Voter turnout, according to official figures, was more than 68%. Polling stations were also opened in the Akhalgori district [which came under Tskhinvali control after the 2008 war], where Ossetian passport holders were allowed to vote. The election was monitored by 25 delegates from Russia, Abkhazia, and the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics (recognised by Russia as independent states in February this year).

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and other state departments condemned the so-called second round of the presidential election. According to the statement, such illegal actions violate the fundamental principles and norms of international law and grossly violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders.

"Under the Russian occupation and effective control any so-called elections will not have legal consequences, in the circumstance when hundreds of thousands of IDPs and refugees expelled from their homes as a result of ethnic cleansing of Georgians in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions are still hampered to safe and dignified return home, and fundamental rights and freedoms of people on the ground are blatantly violated. Effective control of the Russian Federation over Georgia’s occupied regions and its responsibility for the violations of human rights on the ground are clearly attested in the Judgment of the European Court of Human Rights of 21 January 2021. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia calls on the Russian Federation to respect Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and implement its international obligations, inter alia the EU-mediated 12 August 2008 Ceasefire Agreement,” reads the statement.

The international reaction was quick and expectedly harsh criticising Russia’s role. On Friday US Senator Chris Coons called the so-called presidential elections a “sham.”

Possible Implications

The first question that Gagloev was asked by a journalist from a Russian publication was about relations with Russia, which later spread in the local media. Gagloev stated that relations with Russia would move to a new stage, although he did not say anything about a possible referendum [on joining Russia]. Bibilov stated in his concession address that the referendum will still be held. He stated that the Central Election Commission had received all necessary documentation and that "they are expected to analyse it all and then submit it to the Supreme Court and select a date" for the referendum.

Alan Gagloev told reporters in Tskhinvali that he was proud of the people who had expressed their views and that Anatoly Bibilov had acknowledged the results of the "elections." Gagloev also said he would form a new team.

Alan Gagloev was born in 1981. He is a financier by profession, but mainly worked in the "KGB" of the de facto republic, and later deepened his knowledge in this field in Russia. He is currently the chairman of the party "Nikhas." He made himself popular through his support of the family of Inal Jabiev, who was killed in the Tskhinvali prison. Later, Jabiev's wife, Oksana Sotieva, founded the Civic Platform, which became Gagloev’s active supporter.

Bibilov might have lost because of his dictatorial manner of rule, which made him lose respect with many South Ossetians. In order to ingratiate himself with Moscow, he sent a Ossetian soldiers to fight for Russia in eastern Ukraine.

Unlike Bibilov, Gagloev had no open support from the Kremlin. There was little indication that Russia was choosing favourites. A group of Russian MPs serving as poll observers reported no major irregularities.

Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs reacted to the news hoping that after Gagloev's victory, the legacy of positive relations with "South Ossetia" will be preserved. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko told reporters in Moscow today, May 9, that Moscow expected everything to be fine.