2022 South Ossetian presidential election

Presidential elections were held in the disputed territory of South Ossetia on 10 April 2022.[2] As none of the presidential nominees obtained at least 50% of the votes, a runoff is scheduled to held on 8 May 2022,[3] between the top two candidates, Alan Gagloyev and incumbent president Anatoly Bibilov.[4]

2022 South Ossetian presidential election
10 April 2022 (first round)
8 May 2022 (second round)[1]
Registered39,282 (first round)
Turnout73.97% (first round)
 
Nominee Alan Gagloyev Anatoly Bibilov
Party Nykhaz United Ossetia
Incumbent President

Anatoly Bibilov
United Ossetia


Politics of South Ossetia
Constitution
Executive
Legislature
Parliament of South Ossetia
Chairman
Alan Tadtaev
Political parties
Elections
Administrative divisions
  • First level: Four Raions
  • Second level: Towns / cities
Foreign relations
Diplomatic missions of / in South Ossetia

Alan Gagloyev received endorsements from Alexandr Pliyev, Garri Muldarov, and Dmitry Tasoyev, heading into the runoff against incumbent president Anatoly Biblov.[4]

Electoral system

The election is held using the two-round system; a candidate would be declared the winner if they received over 50% of the vote in the first round. As no candidate passed the 50% threshold, a run-off will be held. The President is elected for five years with one consecutive re-election possible.[5]

According to the constitution, a citizen of South Ossetia not younger than 35 years old, fluent in the state languages (Ossetian and Russian) and permanently residing in South Ossetia for the last 10 years can be elected president of South Ossetia.[5]

Candidates

Registered
CandidatePartyOffices heldNominatedRegistered[6]
Anatoly Bibilov[7]United OssetiaPresident of South Ossetia (2017–present)8 February 202216 March 2022
Alan Gagloyev[8]NykhazLeader of Nykhaz (2020–present)7 February 202216 March 2022
Garry Muldarov[9]IndependentMember of Parliament (2019–present)7 February 202216 March 2022
Aleksandr Pliyev[10]People's PartyLeader of People's Party (2014–present);
Deputy chairman of Parliament (2019–present)		5 February 202216 March 2022
Dmitry Tasoyev[11]IndependentMember of Parliament (2014–present)9 February 202216 March 2022

Disqualified
  • Rustam Dzagoyev, entrepreneur
  • Ibrahim Gazseev, Minister of Defence (2016–2022)
  • Geno Kajayev, artist
  • Zelem Kaziyev, former police officer
  • Vladimir Kelekhsayev, leader of "Unity of the People" party
  • Eduard Kokoity, former President of South Ossetia (2001–2011)[12]
  • Alan Kozonov, physician
  • Aslan Kutarov, former director of Megafon-South Ossetia
  • Alymbeg Pliyev, former Member of Parliament
  • Vladimir Pukhayev, former defence ministry official
  • David Sanakoyev, Member of Parliament
  • Taymuraz Tadtayev, teacher at South Ossetian university (Communist Party)
  • Albert Valiyev, entrepreneur[5][6]

Withdrew
  • Alan Tekhov, former deputy prime minister of South Ossetia[13]

Campaign

On 25 February 2022, President Bibilov fired his defense minister and presidential candidate Ibrahim Gazseev.[14]

If re-elected, Bibilov announced that a referendum on the unification of South Ossetia with Russia would be held in the near future.[15] Gagloyev was critical of the proposal, since "public opinion on the subject is known."[16] Bibilov was endorsed by Denis Pushilin (head of the breakaway Donetsk People's Republic), Lyudvig Chibirov (first president of South Ossetia) and representatives of the United Russia party.[17]

On 14 April chair of the Central Election Commission Emilia Gagiyeva stated that the election runoff was scheduled for 28 April. As 28 April falls on a Thursday, the CEC sent a letter to the president asking him to declare it a day off. On 23 April the Supreme Court of South Ossetia revoked the CEC decision as it was in contrary with Article 10 of the Constitution of South Ossetia, which says that voting could be held only on Sunday.[18]

Results

Following the first round results, the three eliminated candidates all endorsed opposition leader Gagloyev.[19]

CandidatePartyVotes%
Alan GagloyevNykhaz10,70738.55
Anatoly BibilovUnited Ossetia9,70634.95
Aleksandr PliyevPeople's Party3,43412.37
Garry MuldarovIndependent2,5929.33
Dmitry TasoyevIndependent8222.96
None of the above5101.84
Total27,771100.00
Valid votes27,77195.57
Invalid/blank votes1,2864.43
Total votes29,057100.00
Registered voters/turnout39,28273.97
Source: Central Electoral Commission

International reactions

References
  1. "Второй тур выборов президента Южной Осетии состоится 8 мая". TASS (in Russian). 25 April 2022.
  2. "'Presidential Vote' Slated for April 10 in Tskhinvali Region". Civil.ge. 2022-01-27. Retrieved 2022-01-30.
  3. "Tskhinvali Runoff Race Slated for April 28". civil.ge. 14 April 2022.
  4. "Reports: Runoff Expected in S. Ossetia". Civil.ge. 2022-04-10. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
  5. "ЦИК Южной Осетии завершил прием документов от выдвиженцев в президенты республики" [The CEC of South Ossetia stopped accepting documents from nominees for the presidency]. TASS (in Russian). 2022-03-05.
  6. "КГБ Южной Осетии проверяет ЦИК после заявления о пропаже документов кандидата в президенты" [South Ossetian KGB checks the CEC after the statement that presidential candidate's papers were lost]. TASS (in Russian). 2022-03-17.
  7. "Anatoly Bibilov: Candidate for President of South Ossetia. Elections-2022". IA Res (in Russian). 2022-03-20.
  8. "Alan Gagloyev: Candidate for President of South Ossetia. Elections-2022". IA Res (in Russian). 2022-03-20.
  9. "Garry Muldarov: Candidate for President of South Ossetia. Elections-2022". IA Res (in Russian). 2022-03-20.
  10. "Aleksandr Pliyev: Candidate for President of South Ossetia. Elections-2022". IA Res (in Russian). 2022-03-20.
  11. "Dmitry Tasoyev: Candidate for President of South Ossetia. Elections-2022". IA Res (in Russian). 2022-03-20.
  12. "ЦИК Южной Осетии отказал в регистрации инициативной группе в поддержку экс-президента Эдуарда Кокойты" [CEC of South Ossetia refused to register an initiative group in support of ex-president Eduard Kokoity]. IA Res (in Russian). 2022-02-21.
  13. "Бывший зампред правительства Южной Осетии Алан Техов снял свою кандидатуру с президентских выборов" [Former deputy chairman of the government of South Ossetia Alan Tekhov withdrew his candidacy from the presidential elections]. IA Res (in Russian). 2022-02-14.
  14. "Выборы в Южной Осетии: Бибилов уволил соперника — министра обороны". EA Daily (in Russian). 25 February 2022.
  15. "Analysts are sceptical on South-Ossetian initiative to join Russia". Kavkazsky Uzel.
  16. "Tskhinvali Leadership Hopeful Shows Cautious Stance on Annexation". civil.ge. 9 April 2022.
  17. "Russian ruling party endorsed Bibilov for re-election in separatist Tskhinvali". CaucasusWatch.de. 17 April 2022.
  18. "В Южной Осетии отменили проведение 28 апреля второго тура президентских выборов". TASS (in Russian). 23 April 2022.
  19. "Opposition leader wins first round in South Ossetia presidential poll". oc-media.org. 2022-04-11.
  20. "Азербайджан «отказал» Южной Осетии в президентских выборах". EA Daily (in Russian). 11 April 2022.
  21. "Чехия не признала президентские выборы в Южной Осетии". EA Daily (in Russian). 12 April 2022.
  22. "Statement by a Federal Foreign Office Spokesperson on the illegitimate, so‑called 'elections' in the Georgian region of South Ossetia". Federal Foreign Office. 10 April 2022.
  23. "Moldova rejects "elections" in Russian-occupied Tskhinvali". Agenda.ge. 8 April 2022.
  24. "România nu recunoaște "alegerile" din Tskhinvali/Osetia de Sud din Georgia". Știri din România (in Romanian). 10 April 2022.
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