TSKHINVALI, September 19 – De facto South Ossetia’s acting president Marat Kambolov has claimed victory in Friday’s snap election, with his rivals congratulating him even before the final vote count was announced.
Georgia condemned the vote as illegal, saying it could not change the breakaway region’s status as part of Georgian territory.
The territory’s Central Election Commission reported turnout of 73.2%, with Kambolov leading after 40% of polling station reports had been processed, according to local state news agency RES. The agency referred to him as president-elect on Saturday morning.
Georgia’s Foreign Ministry condemned the election in a statement on Friday afternoon, while voting was still underway. It said holding elections under Russian military occupation and effective control violated fundamental principles of international law and could neither legitimize the authorities in Tskhinvali nor change the region’s legal status as an integral part of Georgia.
The ministry said displaced people and refugees were still unable to return safely to their homes. It called on the international community to condemn the vote and support a peaceful settlement of the conflict.
The statement also condemned Russia’s decision to hold elections to its State Duma in Abkhazia and South Ossetia from September 18 to 20. The ministry said opening Russian polling stations on Georgian territory without Tbilisi’s consent violated Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Kambolov thanked voters late Friday, describing the turnout as a record and saying their participation represented a major responsibility and a sign of trust. He also urged Russian citizens living in South Ossetia to take part in Russia’s parliamentary elections over the weekend.
His opponents acknowledged the preliminary result. Zurab Kokoev, the Unity party candidate, congratulated Kambolov on Friday night and said his team would continue taking part in the region’s political life.
Murat Valiev of the Patriots of Alania party said it was too early to draw final conclusions while counting continued but expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the vote. Independent candidate Kazbek Kodoev said his campaign had recorded no violations and praised the atmosphere among the candidates.
Sergei Menyailo, the head of Russia’s North Ossetia region, congratulated Kambolov on Saturday.
The early election followed the resignation of former president Alan Gagloev in June, when he left office to become an adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kambolov, then prime minister, took over as acting president.
