Former Russian official declared winner of South Ossetia's presidential election

Marat Kambolov, South Ossetia's prime minister and acting president, has won the early presidential election in the partially recognized republic, according to Central Election Commission head Emilia Gagieva. With 99% of ballots counted, Kambolov received 85.12% of the vote. Turnout stood at 73.2%, with more than 32,000 people casting ballots.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has already congratulated Kambolov, calling the win a confirmation of trust from South Ossetian citizens and expressing confidence that Kambolov's leadership would strengthen ties between Moscow and Tskhinvali.

How Kambolov rose to power

The early election was triggered after President Alan Gagloev announced his resignation on June 23; he subsequently became an adviser to Putin. Shortly before stepping down, Gagloev nominated Kambolov — a Russian citizen who had previously worked in the Russian government and held senior positions at the Kurchatov Institute research center — as prime minister. Under South Ossetian law, the prime minister serves as acting president after a presidential resignation, pending an early election.

Kambolov's appointment as prime minister was made possible by a treaty signed by Russia and South Ossetia in May, which allows citizens of each to hold government posts in the other.

A Meduza source close to the Russian presidential administration said back in 2022 that the Kremlin was considering incorporating South Ossetia and Abkhazia into Russia or the Union State of Russia and Belarus. A political consultant who worked on the Ossetian elections described the move as reviving the idea of a "mini-USSR." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has denied any link between the leadership change and a potential move toward joining Russia.

Georgia regards South Ossetia and Abkhazia as territories occupied by Russia and considers elections held there illegal. Georgia's Foreign Ministry said holding elections in occupied territory under military occupation, while displaced persons and refugees are denied a safe return home, is illegal and carries no legal consequences under international law.