Seven candidates for the presidency of South Ossetia have submitted documents to the Central Election Commission.

Seven candidates are vying for the presidency of South Ossetia, the Central Election Commission will decide on the registration or refusal of registration of authorized representatives of political parties and initiative groups. Five out of seven candidates are former and current security officials.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", a day before the deadline for submitting documents, the Central Election Commission of South Ossetia nominated its candidates for the presidency: the "Development Party" supported Fatima Khugaeva, the "Unity" party nominated Zurab Kokoev, and an initiative group nominated Kazbek Kodoev. Earlier, the acting head of South Ossetia Marat Kambolov and the leader of "Iry Farn" Khoch Chochiev announced their participation in the elections. The "People's Unity" party announced its decision not to nominate a candidate.

On July 30, the stage of nominating candidates for the position of head of state in the republic was completed. Three initiative groups and four parties submitted documents to the Central Election Commission. The list of candidates was supplemented by Eduard Gabaraev, nominated by an initiative group, and Murat Valiev — from the "Patriots of Alania", reports IA "Res".

The Central Election Commission will make decisions on the registration or refusal of registration of authorized representatives of political parties and initiative groups within five days from the date of receipt of documents. Only after registration can the nominating entities proceed to the next stage of the election campaign — collecting signatures in support of candidates for the presidency of the RSO and opening an election account.

Of the seven candidates, five are former security officials. Kazbek Kodoev and Murat Valiev are former KGB employees, while Valiev is currently an employee of the State Security Service. Khoch Chochiev also previously worked in State Security, Eduard Gabaraev — in the Ministry of Defense, Fatima Khugaeva — in the Russian police, reports "Sapa Tskhinval".

The youngest candidates for the position of head of the republic are Khoch Chochiev and Fatima Khugaeva, both 47 years old. The most experienced politician is Zurab Kokoev, who has headed the "Unity" party for 23 years, he is 66 years old.

The "People's Unity" party, which initially expressed a desire to participate in the election race, decided to withdraw from it. As reported by the party leader Vladimir Kelekhsaev, party members will decide on supporting one of the nominated candidates. The "Iron" party also refused to participate, which had planned to hold a pre-election congress until July 30.