Five candidates have been nominated for the presidency of South Ossetia.

A day before the deadline for submitting documents, the Central Election Commission of South Ossetia saw its candidates for the presidency nominated by the "Development Party," supporting Fatima Khugaeva, the "Unity" party nominated Zurab Kokoey, and an initiative group nominated Kazbek Kodoey. Earlier, the acting head of South Ossetia Marat Kambolov and the leader of "Iry Farn" Khoch Chochiev announced their participation in the elections. The "Unity of the People" party announced its decision not to nominate a candidate.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", the acting president of South Ossetia Marat Kambolov has already submitted documents to the Central Election Commission, after which he secured support from Putin. The "Iry Farn" party nominated Khoch Chochiev as a presidential candidate. The meeting of the initiative group to nominate Oleg Kozaev as a presidential candidate was postponed for the second time. Initially, the meeting was scheduled for July 25 at 12:00 in the city House of Culture (the former building of the Trade Union). However, as Oleg Kozaev himself reported, it did not take place for technical reasons.

The Socialist Party "Unity of the People" notified the Central Election Commission of South Ossetia about the decision made at the party congress, which took place today at 17:00, to cease participation in the electoral process, reports the "Res" agency citing the CEC.

Also today, the congress of the "Development Party" took place, where the delegates supported the nomination of resident of Kvaisa Fatima Khugaeva for the presidency, reports Sputnik South Ossetia.

Khugaeva is a lawyer, a retired police lieutenant colonel, and has worked for many years in the central office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. She ran for the State Duma of the seventh convocation from the Penza region. She currently resides permanently in South Ossetia, working in a local school as the deputy director for military-patriotic education, as well as a teacher of life safety and history.

She was voted for by 76 out of 78 present. At the same time, according to the legislation, at least one hundred delegates must be present at the party congress. Despite this, the party noted that they would still submit documents to the CEC.

The "Unity" party nominated Zurab Kokoey as a candidate for the presidency of South Ossetia. Kokoey has headed the party since its founding in 2003, held positions as deputy prime minister and prime minister of the republic, and served as acting speaker of parliament. Currently, Kokoey is the plenipotentiary representative of the government.

Today, the initiative group nominated Kazbek Kodoey as a candidate for the presidency of South Ossetia. His candidacy was unanimously supported by all members of the initiative group.

Currently, the names of five contenders for the top position in the country are known in South Ossetia. They are Marat Kambolov, leaders of the "Iry Farn" and "Unity" parties Khoch Chochiev and Zurab Kokoey, candidates from the "Patriots of Alania" and "Development Party" Murat Valiev and Fatima Khugaeva, specifies Sputnik South Ossetia.

Political parties and initiative groups of voters can submit documents for the nomination of candidates for the early elections of the President of the Republic of South Ossetia, scheduled for September 18, 2026, until 18:00 on July 30, 2026, writes IA "Res".

Recall that according to the Constitution of South Ossetia, after the official departure of the current president, the next elections for the leader of the republic must take place within three months – no later than September 21, 2026. "The elections for the president of the Republic of South Ossetia must take place no later than 90 days from the day of the early termination of the powers of the former head of state," states the text of the Constitution of South Ossetia, posted on the website of the republican parliament.