Georgian breakaway region declares former Russian government official the winner of its presidential election. A new treaty made his rise possible.

South Ossetia's prime minister and acting president Marat Kambolov has claimed victory in the region's presidential election following the official results. With 99% of the votes tallied, Kambolov secured 85.12% of the total votes cast. A record 73.2% of eligible voters participated in the election. Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Kambolov on his triumph, praising his electoral win and expressing confidence that his leadership will bolster relations between Moscow and Tskhinvali.

The early presidential election was triggered by South Ossetian President Alan Gagloev's resignation, effective June 23. Prior to stepping down, Gagloev appointed Kambolov as acting president and subsequently as prime minister. The Russian-South Ossetian treaty signed in May stipulates that Russian citizens can serve in government roles within the partially recognized republic.

Kambolov's path to the presidency was further facilitated by this agreement. The Kremlin has reportedly been contemplating incorporating South Ossetia and Abkhazia into Russia or the Union State. However, Georgia views these regions as Russian-occupied territory and deems the elections illegal under international law.