Early presidential elections in de facto South Ossetia will be held on 18 September 2026. On 1 July, the parliament of the republic made this decision after President Alan Gagloev terminated his term of office early. Later, by order of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Gagloev was appointed an adviser to the President of Russia, while, in accordance with the Constitution of South Ossetia, the Prime Minister, Marat Kambolov, was tasked with performing the duties of president.

Alongside the calling of the elections, the positions of both the ruling political forces and opposition parties have already partially emerged.

One of the first political groups to announce its plans was the Republican Socialist Party “Irony”. According to the party’s leader, Giorgi Kabisov, the General Council unanimously decided to participate in the elections. According to him, the party will hold a pre-election congress by 30 July and nominate its candidate. At the same time, representatives of “Irony” called on the Central Election Commission and all parties participating in the elections to ensure a fair and transparent electoral process.

On the other hand, the ruling party “Unity” openly came out in support of acting president Marat Kambolov. The party’s statement says that its support for Kambolov is based both on an assessment of the challenges facing the republic, and on the need to continue the course towards integration with the Russian Federation.

Particularly noteworthy is the emphasis placed in the statement on the agreement signed on 9 May 2026, in which the party speaks of the need to deepen allied cooperation between Russia and South Ossetia. According to “Unity”, the agreement created new opportunities for social and economic development and further strengthened existing security guarantees.

The party describes Kambolov as an experienced statesman and emphasises his many years of service in Russian federal state structures.

Kambolov’s political biography indeed differs from those of South Ossetia’s former leaders. Although Eduard Kokoity, Leonid Tibilov, Anatoly Bibilov and Alan Gagloev pursued a pro-Russian political course at different times and maintained close relations with Moscow, their careers were primarily linked to South Ossetia. In Kambolov’s case, however, a significant part of his professional career is specifically linked to public service in Russia.

Given the existing circumstances, Kambolov is considered the leading candidate for the presidency and, at the same time, a key actor in further strengthening Moscow’s influence.

At this stage, the electoral process is only in its initial phase. In the coming weeks, with the official nomination of candidates and the launch of the election campaign, it will become clearer which parties will put forward their own candidates. However, we may assume that the Kremlin has already decided the outcome of the elections in its own favour.