Mamuka Areshidze: “Dialogue with Jioeva Will Be More Effective than with Bibilov”

Mamuka Areshidze, expert in Caucasian issues, believes that the political course of the break-away region will be oriented on Moscow regardless the fact who will win the de-facto presidential elections in South Ossetia.

“Both candidates participating in the second round of the de-facto presidential elections are pro-Russian. In comparison with the interests of Moscow, the interests of their population are less important for them. However, in the view of communication, the dialogue with Ala Jioeva will be more effective than with Bibilov, who is completely manipulated by Russia,” Mamuka Areshidze told the ICMM.

He said, according to preliminary results, oppositionist candidate Ala Jioeva won the elections, which showed that the South Ossetian population is irritated with Russian factor.

“The recent meeting of the Russian President Dimitry Medvedev with Bibilov irritated the Ossetian society and opposed him,” said Areshidze.

On November 27, the second round of the de-facto presidential election was held in South Ossetia where the de-facto minister Anatoly Bibilov (favorite of Kokoity and the Kremlin) and de-facto education minister Ala Jioeva (candidate nominated by the leader of the united opposition Dzambolat Tedeev) participated.

According to the results of 43 precincts out of total 85 precincts, Ala Jioeva gained 51, 37 % of votes and Anatoly Bibilov gained 46, 21 % as news agency Osinform reported.

The first round of the de-facto presidential election was held on November 13 and 11 candidates participated in it.

ICMM