Ex-KGB Boss Is South Ossetia's New President

Leonid Tibilov has said he will develop the relationship with Russia 'in all areas'

3:39pm UK, Monday April 09, 2012

Leonid Tibilov, 60, won with 54.1% of the vote in a run-off against presidential human rights commissioner David Sanakoyev, election commission chief Bella Pliyeva said.

Sunday's vote marked the third attempt since November to elect a leader amid political turmoil in the region.

Russia recognised the small mountainous province - around 60 miles (100km) north of the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, and with a population of around 35,000 - as an independent state after driving out Georgian forces during a five-day war in 2008.

The move was condemned by Western nations.

Although independent, South Ossetia remains heavily dependent on Moscow which has spent around $1bn (?629,000) supporting the impoverished nation since the 2008 war.

The 2008 war betwen Russia and Georgia took place mostly in South Ossetia

Many of its residents say they have seen little sign of the money coming through.

Mr Tibilov, who headed South Ossetia's security agency in the 1990s, acknowledged in the course of his campaign that funds had been "misappropriated" and vowed to crack down on corruption.

"We will develop the relationship with Russia in all areas. We are aiming to make an old dream about the reunification of South and North Ossetia a reality," he told reporters at a polling station in the region's capital, Tskhinvali.

Analysts say Russia uses its influence on South Ossetia and another breakaway region of Georgia, Abkhazia, to keep US-backed Georgia's aspiration of joining Nato in check.

Georgia's entry to the Western military alliance is seen as problematic as long as the areas remain disputed territory.

Georgia has branded the South Ossetian vote "illegitimate".

South Ossetia first tried to elect a new president in November, when former education minister and anti-corruption crusader Alla Dzhioyeva appeared to have beaten a rival backed by the Kremlin and the former local president.

But the results were disputed and a local court ordered a new vote. Mr Dzhioyeva was barred from running in the new election.

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