2022 South Ossetian presidential election
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Presidential elections were held in the disputed territory of South Ossetia on 10 April 2022.[1] As none of the presidential nominees obtained at least 50% of the votes, a runoff was held on 8 May 2022,[2] between the top two candidates, Alan Gagloyev and incumbent president Anatoly Bibilov.[3]
Prior to the run-off, Gagloyev received endorsements from the three candidates eliminated in the first round, Alexandr Pliyev, Garri Muldarov, and Dmitry Tasoyev, heading into the runoff against incumbent president Anatoly Biblov.[3] Gagloyev went on to win with 56.1% of the vote,[4][5] while Bibilov conceded defeat on the election night.[6]
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.[7]
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.[7]
Candidates
Registered
| Candidate | Party | Offices held | Nominated | Registered[8] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anatoly Bibilov[9] | United Ossetia | President of South Ossetia (2017–present) | 8 February 2022 | 16 March 2022 | |
| Alan Gagloyev[10] | Nykhaz | Leader of Nykhaz (2020–present) | 7 February 2022 | 16 March 2022 | |
| Garry Muldarov[11] | Independent | Member of Parliament (2019–present) | 7 February 2022 | 16 March 2022 | |
| Aleksandr Pliyev[12] | People's Party | Leader of People's Party (2014–present); Deputy chairman of Parliament (2019–present) |
5 February 2022 | 16 March 2022 | |
| Dmitry Tasoyev[13] | Independent | Member of Parliament (2014–present) | 9 February 2022 | 16 March 2022 | |
Disqualified
- Rustam Dzagoyev, entrepreneur
- Ibrahim Gazseev, Minister of Defence (2016–2022)
- Geno Kajayev, artist
- Zelem Kaziyev, former police officer
- Vladimir Kelekhsaev, leader of Unity of the People
- Eduard Kokoity, former President of South Ossetia (2001–2011)[14]
- 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[7][8]
Withdrew
- Alan Tekhov, former deputy prime minister of South Ossetia[15]
Campaign
On 25 February 2022, President Bibilov fired his defense minister and presidential candidate Ibrahim Gazseev.[16]
If re-elected, Bibilov announced that a referendum on the unification of South Ossetia with Russia would be held in the near future.[17] Gagloyev was critical of the proposal, since "public opinion on the subject is known."[18] 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.[19]
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.[20]
Results
On April 10, 2022, incumbent President Anatoly Bibilov lost the first round of the presidential election to Alan Gagloyev, who received most votes.[21][22] As none of the candidates received more than 50% of the vote, a requirement to win the presidency, a second round was called between Bibilov and Gagloyev. The three eliminated candidates declared their support for Gagloyev for the second round, which was scheduled for May 8, 2022, after initial confusion over its date.[23] Gagloyev won this round with 56.2% of the vote. The Election Commission set the transfer of power on May 24, 2022.[24]
According to local experts, Bibilov's defeat after an easy victory in 2017 can be explained by the number of scandals and abuse of power accusations that took place in recent years. There was for example the scandal of the prison death, which caused civil unrest and a paralyzed parliament.[25]
| Candidate | Party | First round | Second round | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |||
| Alan Gagloyev | Nykhaz | 10,707 | 38.55 | 16,134 | 56.08 | |
| Anatoly Bibilov | United Ossetia | 9,706 | 34.95 | 11,767 | 40.90 | |
| Aleksandr Pliyev | People's Party | 3,434 | 12.37 | |||
| Garry Muldarov | Independent | 2,592 | 9.33 | |||
| Dmitry Tasoyev | Independent | 822 | 2.96 | |||
| None of the above | 510 | 1.84 | 867 | 3.01 | ||
| Total | 27,771 | 100.00 | 28,768 | 100.00 | ||
| Valid votes | 27,771 | 95.57 | 28,768 | 97.77 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 1,286 | 4.43 | 655 | 2.23 | ||
| Total votes | 29,057 | 100.00 | 29,423 | 100.00 | ||
| Registered voters/turnout | 39,282 | 73.97 | 39,798 | 73.93 | ||
| Source: Central Electoral Commission, Final results CEC, Protocol CEC | ||||||
International reactions
Azerbaijan – The South Caucasian nation continues to "support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia and does not recognize the so-called presidential election in Georgia's Tskhinvali region". The Foreign Ministry "considers it important to continue negotiations for a peaceful solution to the Tskhinvali issue in accordance with the norms and principles of international law."[26]
Czech Republic – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic does not recognize the presidential elections held in South Ossetia on April 10.[27]
Germany – The German Government declared that it stands with Georgia and regards elections and their outcome as illegal.[28]
Moldova – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova expressed that it would not recognize the elections in South Ossetia and that it firmly supported Georgian territorial integrity.[29]
Romania – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania declared that it considered the South Ossetian elections as illegitimate and that it supports a peaceful settlement of protracted conflicts in Georgia that respects its internationally recognized borders.[30]
References
- ^ "'Presidential Vote' Slated for April 10 in Tskhinvali Region". Civil.ge. 2022-01-27. Retrieved 2022-01-30.
- ^ "Tskhinvali Runoff Race Slated for April 28". civil.ge. 14 April 2022.
- ^ a b "Reports: Runoff Expected in S. Ossetia". Civil.ge. 2022-04-10. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
- ^ Инаугурация избранного президента Южной Осетии Алана Гаглоева пройдет 24 мая, ЦИК огласила окончательные итоги выборов. IA Res (in Russian). 2022-05-14. Retrieved 2022-05-16.
- ^ "South Ossetia's incumbent leader loses reelection". 2022-05-09.
- ^ "Anatoly Bibilov congratulated Alan Gagloev on his election victory". IA Res (in Russian). 2022-05-08.
- ^ a b c "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.
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ "Anatoly Bibilov: Candidate for President of South Ossetia. Elections-2022". IA Res (in Russian). 2022-03-20.
- ^ "Alan Gagloyev: Candidate for President of South Ossetia. Elections-2022". IA Res (in Russian). 2022-03-20.
- ^ "Garry Muldarov: Candidate for President of South Ossetia. Elections-2022". IA Res (in Russian). 2022-03-20.
- ^ "Aleksandr Pliyev: Candidate for President of South Ossetia. Elections-2022". IA Res (in Russian). 2022-03-20.
- ^ "Dmitry Tasoyev: Candidate for President of South Ossetia. Elections-2022". IA Res (in Russian). 2022-03-20.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Выборы в Южной Осетии: Бибилов уволил соперника — министра обороны". EA Daily (in Russian). 25 February 2022.
- ^ "Analysts are sceptical on South-Ossetian initiative to join Russia". Kavkazsky Uzel.
- ^ "Tskhinvali Leadership Hopeful Shows Cautious Stance on Annexation". civil.ge. 9 April 2022.
- ^ "Russian ruling party endorsed Bibilov for re-election in separatist Tskhinvali". CaucasusWatch.de. 17 April 2022.
- ^ "В Южной Осетии отменили проведение 28 апреля второго тура президентских выборов". TASS (in Russian). 23 April 2022.
- ^ "Opposition Candidate Takes Lead in First Round of S. Ossetia Polls". Civil Georgia. 2022-04-11. Retrieved 2022-04-24.
- ^ "S. Ossetian Runoffs Rescheduled to May 8". Civil Georgia. 2022-04-25. Retrieved 2022-04-29.
- ^ "Opposition leader wins first round in South Ossetia presidential poll". OC Media. 2022-04-11. Retrieved 2022-04-11.
- ^ "Инаугурация избранного президента Южной Осетии Алана Гаглоева пройдет 24 мая, ЦИК огласила окончательные итоги выборов (The inauguration of the elected President of South Ossetia Alan Gagloev will be held on May 24, the CEC announced the final results of the elections)". IA Res (in Russian). 2022-05-14. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
- ^ ""Anyone, but Bibilov" - South Ossetia elects a new president". JAM News. 2022-05-09. Retrieved 2022-05-10.
- ^ "Азербайджан "отказал" Южной Осетии в президентских выборах". EA Daily (in Russian). 11 April 2022.
- ^ "Чехия не признала президентские выборы в Южной Осетии". EA Daily (in Russian). 12 April 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Moldova rejects "elections" in Russian-occupied Tskhinvali". Agenda.ge. 8 April 2022.
- ^ "MAE nu recunoaște "alegerile prezidențiale" din Tskhinvali/Osetia de Sud (Georgia)". JURIDICE.ro, the Society of Legal Sciences (in Romanian). 2022-04-11. Retrieved 2022-05-11.
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