The failed presidential candidate of South Ossetia called the elections a simulation of competition.

Marat Kambolov's opponents in the presidential elections of South Ossetia are merely technical; they have been nominated to create the appearance of competition, said the leader of the "Iry Farn" party, Khokh Chochiev. He called the reasons for his exclusion from the elections formal.

As reported by "Caucasian Knot", Murat Valiev and Kazbek Kodoev, along with Marat Kambolov and Zurab Kokoev, have been allowed to participate in the presidential elections. The Central Election Commission of South Ossetia announced that a total of 40,000 ballots will be printed.

Khokh Chochiev, who was denied registration as a presidential candidate by the Central Election Commission of South Ossetia, made a video address on social media and criticized the decision to exclude him from the elections. He stated that "the trust of citizens cannot be earned through artificial restrictions and simulation of competition."

According to Chochiev, he acknowledges that the formal and legal grounds for such a decision existed for the Central Election Commission, however, the current requirements and the procedure for their implementation are structured in such a way that certain omissions and shortcomings can always be identified.

If the law is the same for everyone and should ensure equal conditions for every voter and candidate, why is it effectively rewritten for one candidate?

"If the law is the same for everyone and should ensure equal conditions for every voter and candidate, why is it effectively rewritten for one candidate, while another is excluded due to formal and, in essence, optional circumstances?" he says.

Chochiev did not specify which candidate he believes the law was rewritten for. However, recent amendments and the agreement between Russia and South Ossetia made it possible for Marat Kambolov to participate in the elections. The agreement, signed on May 9, 2026, states that "the Contracting Parties account for the periods of permanent residence of their citizens on each other's territories to ensure the possibility of filling positions for which the legislation of the Contracting Parties establishes requirements for the duration of permanent residence in the country, provided that they have held state or municipal positions for at least 10 years on the territory of one of the Contracting Parties." This effectively means that the 10-year residency requirement for presidential candidates no longer applies to a citizen of Russia if they have held a state or municipal position in Russia.

"Shouldn't a citizen of the republic, who was born here, grew up, served, and works for the good of his country, have the right to vote and be elected? Shouldn't a mistake made in the date on a signature sheet or the entry of that date by another person with the voter's consent really become grounds for declaring his will invalid?" Khokh Chochiev asks.

The other candidates are nominated as technical ones, to create the appearance of political competition. As a result, the elections may take place without a real choice.

Many commentators and news Telegram channels criticized Chochiev's discontented statement, arguing that he failed the Russian language exam. Chochiev does not deny this and does not comment on it, but recorded an address in Russian, in which he speaks Russian fluently.

"It is no secret that the other candidates are nominated as technical ones, to create the appearance of political competition. As a result, the elections may take place without a real choice. And I am saying this not as a candidate, but as a voter," Chochiev says, emphasizing that he is not calling anyone to anything, but merely defending the rights of all voters.

Recall that after a meeting with Vladimir Putin on June 22, Alan Gagloev was appointed his advisor and announced his resignation from the post of president of South Ossetia. The head of the republic's government, Marat Kambolov, was appointed as the acting president of South Ossetia. Early presidential elections in South Ossetia are scheduled for September 18. During Gagloev's presidency, the degradation of political and social institutions continued in South Ossetia, and the outflow of the population from the republic reached such proportions that a new presidential candidate was sent from outside, analysts told the "Caucasian Knot".

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