Former Russian official Marat Kambolov is winning the snap election for the de facto presidency of South Ossetia. The vote took place in the occupied region on Friday, September 18, concurrently with elections to the Russian State Duma.
Emilia Gagieva, head of the local Central Election Commission (CEC), announced that with 99% of ballots processed, Kambolov secured 85.12% of the vote. Overall voter turnout stood at 73.2%, representing more than 32,000 voters.
Four candidates contested the race. In addition to acting de facto president Kambolov, the contenders included:
- Murat Valiev (nominated by the “Patriots of Alania” party) – 3.75%
- Kazbek Kodoev (nominated by a voter initiative group) – 2.40%
- Zurab Kokoev (nominated by the “Unity” party) – 1.35%
Russian President Vladimir Putin has already congratulated Marat Kambolov on his victory in the “election.” He expressed confidence that the new leader’s tenure will advance the progressive development of relations between Moscow and Tskhinvali “for the benefit of the peoples and in the interests of strengthening regional security and stability.”
“Such a convincing electoral victory confirmed the high degree of trust placed in you by South Ossetian citizens,” the message stated.
The politician had previously secured the Kremlin’s backing. On July 13, 2026, the newly appointed Kambolov met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. At the time, the Russian president declared unequivocally: “We will do everything to support you.”
Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the vote in Tskhinvali. Tbilisi stressed that the “elections” violate fundamental norms and principles of international law, cannot confer legitimacy on the occupation regime, and cannot alter the region’s legal status under international law as an integral part of Georgia.
“The holding of any so-called elections in the occupied territories of Georgia under conditions of military occupation and effective control by the Russian Federation, where displaced persons and refugees are denied the opportunity for a safe and dignified return to their homes, is illegal and cannot entail any legal consequences under international law.”
The European Union also condemned the “elections” in South Ossetia. In a dedicated statement, the EU High Representative affirmed that Brussels does not recognize the constitutional and legal framework of the vote in the occupied region: “Their results are null and void and have no legal effect.”
Notably, the 61-year-old Marat Kambolov was born in Russia and spent most of his professional career there. Prior to the spring of 2026, he had no connection to South Ossetia.
Kambolov previously served at the Russian Antimonopoly Committee, the Ministry of Regional Policy, and as director of the National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute.” It was only in May of this year that he was appointed “state adviser to the president of South Ossetia.”
The snap election in Tskhinvali was called following the resignation of de facto president Alan Gagloev on June 23, 2026. The official justification given was his reassignment to the post of adviser to the president of Russia. Subsequently, the so-called prime minister Marat Kambolov was named acting “president.”