Presidential Elections in South Ossetia

Presidential elections have begun in South Ossetia, with 76 polling stations opening at 08:00 local time (coinciding with Moscow time) both within and outside the boundaries of the republic. These stations will remain open until 20:00.

Five candidates are vying for the position of the Republic's leader. Moscow recognized the independence of South Ossetia (and, simultaneously, Abkhazia, another former autonomous region of Georgia) on August 26, 2008. Earlier that month, Russia intervened to protect South Ossetia from the Georgian military, which was seeking to bring it back under Tbilisi's authority. Since then, Russian leadership has repeatedly stated that the recognition of both republics reflects the prevailing realities and is not subject to revision.