Marat Kambolov wins presidential election in South Ossetia

Marat Kambolov won the presidential election in South Ossetia on September 18, 2026, receiving 85% of the vote. The former Russian federal official rose to leadership within a few months, moving from an advisor to former president Alan Gagloev to prime minister, then interim president, and finally the winner of this election.

Political scientists Alla Dzhioeva and Ruslan Totrov told the Caucasian Knot network that the campaign lacked real competition and featured technical candidates. Georgia claims the region as part of its national territory and views the vote as a violation of its sovereignty.