Russian Official Kambolov Declared Winner of Occupied Tskhinvali's 'Presidential Vote' as Georgia, EU, UK Condemn

Marat Kambolov, a North Ossetian-born former Russian federal official installed as South Ossetia's prime minister in June 2026 after Alan Gagloev resigned the presidency to become a Putin adviser, won the de facto region's Sept. 18 'presidential vote' with 84.95% on 82.65% turnout, running under the integration treaty Gagloev signed with Russia in May 2026 that opened South Ossetian office to any Russian citizen. Georgia's Foreign Ministry said the vote "cannot confer legitimacy on the occupation regime" and violates international law; the EU called the result "null and void" and part of Moscow's steps toward de facto annexation, and the UK's Stewart Wood said Russia's actions in the region "will not go unanswered." Vladimir Putin congratulated Kambolov on the win.