Pro-Russian forces win elections in South Ossetians

Jun 1, 2009, 13:32 GMT

Moscow - The pro-Russia Unity Party of President Eduard Kokoity led in South Ossetia's parliamentary elections with 46.3 per cent of the vote, said the election commission in Zkhinwali, the capital of the breakaway Georgian republic, on Monday.

The election commission also reported that the pro-government People's Party came in second place with 22.5 per cent of the vote, followed by the Communists with 22.2 per cent.

Nearly 82 per cent of eligible voters participated in the election, the commission said. Four parties competed for seats in the 34-member South Ossetian assembly, for which some 52,000 people are registered to vote.

The European Union, however, did not recognize the election, with the EU presidency in Prague stating it would not accept 'neither the legality nor the results of the 'election'.'

The EU stressed its support for the 'sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders.'

The South Ossetian opposition meanwhile accused Kokoity of 'a staged election victory' in order to amend the constitution to allow him a further term in office.

Kokoity's opponents have complained of severe obstacles being placed in front of them during the election campaign.

The single-day vote, coming some 10 months after the summer 2008 war between Russia and Georgia over the region, went smoothly, with an election commission spokesman saying that well over the required 50 per cent of voters turned out.

South Ossetia and neighbouring republic Abkhazia declared themselves independent, with Moscow's support, following the war in August 2008.

During the former Soviet era, South Ossetia enjoyed autonomy with regard to its language and education.