South Ossetia presidential election: Meet the seven contenders
Presidential contenders in South Ossetia
Registration of candidates for South Ossetia‘s snap presidential election, scheduled for 18 September 2026, has closed, with seven contenders set to run.
Yet, even before the campaign has begun, many in South Ossetia believe the outcome is already decided. Most see acting President Marat Kambolov – a senior Russian official appointed from Moscow – as the clear frontrunner and the likely winner.
Candidates
The initiative groups have nominated acting President and Prime Minister Marat Kambolov, former KGB officer Kazbek Kodoyev, and Eduard Gabarayev, a member of the extra-parliamentary Iron party and a former defence ministry official.
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Several political parties have also nominated their own candidates. Khoh Chochiyev, a former State Protection Service officer, has been nominated by the extra-parliamentary Iry Farn party. Another security official, Murat Valiyev – a serving officer in the presidential State Protection Service and a former KGB officer – has been nominated by the Patriots of Alania party.
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Zurab Kokoyev, chairman of the Unity party, which has previously been in power, has also announced his intention to run, despite having earlier backed Kambolov’s nomination.
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Finally, the only woman in the race and a newcomer to South Ossetian politics is Fatima Khugayeva, a retired lieutenant colonel in Russia’s Interior Ministry – making her yet another candidate with a security background.
She has been nominated by the Development Party. Although she was born in Moscow, Khugayeva has South Ossetian roots. After retiring, she returned to her ancestral homeland, got married, and now works as a deputy headteacher while teaching history.
Dropouts
In a surprise development, Georgiy Kabisov, leader of the Iron party, a former head of the Information and Press Committee who previously served a prison sentence for fraud, abandoned his earlier plans to run for president. His party now appears set to throw its full support behind its other nominee, Eduard Gabarayev.
Vladimir Kelekhsayev, leader of the Unity of the People party and a former member of parliament, has also decided not to run. His party is likely to back one of the remaining contenders.
Following the close of registration, the Central Election Commission will review the documents submitted by the registered contenders to ensure they meet all legal requirements. Only then will they officially acquire candidate status, allowing them to open campaign accounts and begin collecting signatures. Some contenders may still be eliminated at this stage if irregularities are found in their paperwork.
Frontrunner, ‘supporting cast’ and ‘independent players‘
Of the seven contenders, only Prime Minister Marat Kambolov appears to have a realistic chance of winning. A Moscow official dispatched from the Kremlin just a few months ago, he has no prior ties to South Ossetia but enjoys unprecedented political backing. Even the territory’s main opposition forces have effectively thrown their support behind him, opting not to contest the election so as not to stand in his way.
Most of the remaining candidates are viewed by analysts as technical candidates whose role is largely to fill out the ballot rather than mount a serious challenge.
This includes Kazbek Kodoyev and Zurab Kokoyev.
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Murat Valiyev is a political newcomer whom the Patriots of Alania party appears to have nominated primarily to give him electoral experience. The campaign will also provide the party, founded only in 2023, with an opportunity to raise its profile. At the same time, the party’s chairman, Dzambolat Tedeyev, has urged voters to back Marat Kambolov.
Analysts regard Khoh Chochiyev and Eduard Gabarayev as the more independent contenders.
In this context, “independent” means that neither politician is regarded as a technical candidate or as someone willing to run merely to benefit the frontrunner. However, both are backed by different groups of current and former officials, as well as opposition figures.
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Fatima Khugayeva, meanwhile, is widely seen as a candidate backed by local business interests. The Development Party, which nominated her, is led by businessman and restaurateur Albert Valiyev, who is friends with Khugayeva’s husband, a producer of alcoholic beverages.
However, Khugayeva is not merely being put forward because of her husband’s connections. She has political experience of her own: she remains a member of the Russian party Communists of Russia and has frequently taken part in protest rallies.
The terminology, place names and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of this website.
