South Ossetia's president Eduard Kokoity says that the republic has never been part of Georgia, and it should unite with “its brothers in North Ossetia”.
Photo: Valery Melnikov
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South Ossetia to Elect Two Presidents
South Ossetia goes to the polls on Sunday to vote for a new president and the independence of the breakaway republic. At the same time, alternative elections with Georgia-friendly candidate are to take place in Ossetia’s part controlled by Tbilisi.
South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity said on Friday “South Ossetia has more rights to be recognized than Kosovo and Montenegro.” He said the country would secure independence by “peaceful ways”. South Ossetia has never been part of Georgia, and it should unite with “its brothers in North Ossetia” [in Russia], Kokoity told the press yesterday. “Independence is just the first step,” he said.
Meanwhile, people in Georgian villages in South Ossetia will go to the polls on Sunday to cast their ballots in an alternative vote where Dmitry Sanakoev, former head of South Ossetia’s government, is an odds-on favorite. Tskhinvali calls him a traitor and even opened a criminal case against him on the charges of parricide. Sanakoev is likely to be elected by Georgians living in South Ossetia. These people do not have South Ossetian citizenship and therefore cannot take part in the election held by Tskhinvali officials.
South Ossetia’s opposition promises to seek the recognition of South Ossetia but as part of Georgia. Uruzmag Karkusov, head of the breakaway election committee says: “We will gain the status of republic. After the election we will launch talks with Georgian officials.”
More than 55,000 people are expected to vote on Sunday at the elections held by Tskhinvali officials as 30,000 people will cast their ballots at the alternative election. South Ossetia will end up with two governments, one of which plans to start negotiations with Georgian authorities. The negotiations are not likely to be a success as Georgia still cannot control Eduard Kokoity’s territory. Evidently, the sole aim of the election is to show to the international community ahead of the decision on Kosovo’s independence that the republic is split into two. Therefore, the issue of independence is not vital.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Nov. 11, 2006
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