Four Candidates Registered for Occupied Tskhinvali's Sept 18 'Presidential Vote'

The de facto Central Election Commission in Russian-occupied Tskhinvali registered four candidates for the September 18, 2026 snap 'presidential' vote, called after Moscow-aligned incumbent Alan Gagloev resigned in June to become a Kremlin adviser: acting de facto leader Marat Kambolov (a North Ossetian-born former Russian official backed by Vladimir Putin and endorsed by three of the four parliamentary parties), Kazbeg Kodoev, Zurab Kokoev of the 'Unity' party, and Murat Valiev of 'Patriots of Alania.' A fifth applicant, Khokh Chochiev, was rejected over insufficient signatures and a failed state-language test. Georgia does not recognize the vote or South Ossetia's occupation authorities.