An early election for the de facto president is underway in occupied South Ossetia. It is taking place concurrently with elections to the Russian State Duma.
Four candidates are contesting the race: Marat Kambolov (acting de facto president); Zurab Kokoev (nominated by the Yedinstvo [Unity] party); Murat Valiev (Patriots of Alania party); and Kazbek Kodoev (nominated by an initiative group of voters).
Marat Kambolov is considered the frontrunner. Although nominated by an initiative group, his candidacy is endorsed by the region’s leading political parties—Yedinaya Osetiya (United Ossetia), Nykhaz, and the Communist Party. According to VTsIOM (Russian Public Opinion Research Center), Kambolov’s support in the region stands at 79%.
The politician also enjoys the Kremlin’s patronage. On July 13, 2026, the newly appointed Kambolov met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. At that meeting, the Russian president stated bluntly: “We will do everything to support you.”
Notably, the South Ossetian “presidential candidate” was born in Russia and spent most of his career there. He has served in the Russian Antimonopoly Committee, the Ministry of Regional Policy, and as director of the National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute.” It was only in May 2026 that he was appointed “state adviser to the president of South Ossetia.”
A total of 70 polling stations will be open for the current election in the occupied Tskhinvali region, alongside one polling station in Moscow and four others in North Ossetia.
According to media reports, monitors from another occupied Georgian region, Abkhazia, are observing the election.
The snap election in Tskhinvali was called following the resignation of de facto president Alan Gagloev on June 23, 2026. The official reason cited was his transfer to the post of adviser to the president of Russia. The so-called prime minister, Marat Kambolov, was subsequently appointed acting “president.”