Deputy Defense Minister Igor Alborov and MP Inal Bazzayev have withdrawn from presidential polls, leaving South Ossetia with 13 candidates, Ossetia.ru reports.
The candidates announced their withdrawal at the Ir TV and Radio Company on November 10. Alborov will support Alan Jotayev, Bazzayev wants to support Georgy Kabisov.
Ossetia.ru reported earlier that initially there had been 17 candidates but Ayvar Bestayev withdrew over health problems on November 7. Merab Chigoyev withdrew as well. The latter expressed willingness to support Emergencies Minister Anatoly Bibilov. Bestayev supports social democrat Dmitry Tasoyev.
The polls will be held on November 13, the same day as the referendum on the Russian language.
Another candidate Vadim Tskhovrebov says that more candidates will resign to support the stronger ones. He has not clarified the names.
The Supreme Council of Ossetians Public Movement urges people to support Anatoly Bibilov, a decision was passed at the presidium of the Coordination Council of the movement. The movement was formed from the Styr Nykhas Council and registered in North Ossetia in September 2010. Boris Basayev, former head of Styr Nykhas, chairs the Coordination Council.
