Former Russian official wins presidency of Moscow-backed South Ossetia

In a vote praised by Moscow, former Russian federal official Marat Kambolov was elected president of South Ossetia, the separatist region that broke away from Georgia in the early 1990s. The 61-year-old, originally from North Ossetia, had served in senior Russian ministries and was appointed South Ossetian prime minister in June after Alan Gagloyev stepped down to advise President Vladimir Putin. The Russian Foreign Ministry said the result reflects a broad wish for stability and deeper integration with the Russian Federation, which signed a defence and infrastructure treaty with South Ossetia in May.

Georgia condemned the treaty as an attempt to cement Russia’s de facto annexation of the region and criticized Russia’s opening of polling stations for its State Duma elections. Putin sent congratulations to Kambolov, who pledged to raise living standards in his victory speech in Tskhinvali. Russian state media noted Kambolov won roughly 85% of the vote, with turnout at 73%, while his rivals received only single-digit percentages.