TBILISI, DFWatch – South Ossetia Thursday inaugurated its newly elected de facto president, former local KGB head Leonid Tibilov.

The second round of president elections in the Georgian breakaway region was held on April 8. Tibilov competed against David Sanakoyev, presidential human rights commissioner. The Kremlin favorite, South Ossetia’s ambassador to Russia, Dmitry Medoyev, was beat in the first round.

South Ossetia tried to hold election in November, 2011, but during vote counting after the second round the election was canceled. Preliminary results showed that the opposition leader had clearly beat another Kremlin favorite, Anatoly Bibilov.

According to Ossetian media, the inauguration was to start at 13:15 and last for one hour. About 500 guests were invited, including guests from Russia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Nauru, Tuvalu, Abkhazia, Vanuatu, Transdniestria, and Nagorno-Karabakh. Former presidents of South Ossetia Ludvig Chibirov and Eduard Kokokity were also to attend the inauguration. Former candidates for president were also invited.