Presidential elections were held in
South Ossetia on 9 April 2017 alongside a
referendum on changing the official name of the state to "Republic of South Ossetia–the State of Alania", or "South Ossetia–Alania" for short.[1] Incumbent President
Leonid Tibilov ran for a second and final term in office,[2] but was defeated by
Anatoly Bibilov of the
United Ossetia party.
Background
The date was set by
Parliament on 18 January 2017.[2]
Eduard Kokoity, President of South Ossetia from 2001 until 2011. His candidacy was rejected due to the Central Electoral Commission finding that he did not meet the residency requirements; a candidate must live in South Ossetia for at least nine months of the year in the ten years preceding an election.[3] The decision to disqualify Kokoity led to several protests in
Tskhinvali, though the decision was not amended.[4]
Presidential elections were held in
South Ossetia on 9 April 2017 alongside a
referendum on changing the official name of the state to "Republic of South Ossetia–the State of Alania", or "South Ossetia–Alania" for short.[1] Incumbent President
Leonid Tibilov ran for a second and final term in office,[2] but was defeated by
Anatoly Bibilov of the
United Ossetia party.
Background
The date was set by
Parliament on 18 January 2017.[2]
Eduard Kokoity, President of South Ossetia from 2001 until 2011. His candidacy was rejected due to the Central Electoral Commission finding that he did not meet the residency requirements; a candidate must live in South Ossetia for at least nine months of the year in the ten years preceding an election.[3] The decision to disqualify Kokoity led to several protests in
Tskhinvali, though the decision was not amended.[4]