Former South Ossetian KGB head Leonid Tibilov has been elected the new
president of South Ossetia, in a vote condemned by Georgia and welcomed
by Russian lawmakers, RIA-Novosti reports.
Tibilov received 54 percent of the vote in the Sunday elections
against the human rights ombudsman David Sanakoev, who gained almost
43 percent. Less than 1 percent of South Ossetians voted against both
candidates.
Georgia has openly criticized the vote. "Our position remains
unchanged. The Tskhinval region remains an occupied territory of
Georgia and any attempt to carry out any form of legitimate act will
not be considered legitimate until those expelled on ethnic grounds
have the right to vote," RIA-Novosti quotes the words of Georgia's
official representative.
South Ossetia is only recognized as an independent state by a handful
of countries, including Russia, which fought a five-day war against
Georgia over the republic in August 2008.
