Alan Gagloev, the Nykhas party's head and a former security officer, was sworn in as the new leader of Russia's occupied Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia on 24 May. The new de-facto leader took the pledge to strive for "observance of the law, respect for freedom and human rights, and universal equality of citizens" during his speech at the ceremony at a theatre in Tskhinvali.

Gagloev also promised to work to increase budgetary revenues, address social issues, and build the economy, all of which he believes can be accomplished through cooperation with Russia. In terms of "foreign policy," the new South Ossetian leader stated that strengthening ties with Russia's North Ossetian republic will be a top priority for his administration. "We also plan to develop our connections with all friendly nations whose officials are present at the event," Gagloev said, alluding to the Kremlin-backed governments in separatist Abkhazia, Donetsk, and Luhansk, among others. 

The new de-facto leader of Georgia’s separatist region also mentioned the "acute geopolitical situation in the world right now" in his speech. He alluded to Russia's conflict against Ukraine by saying, "this is the time of an armed confrontation between good and evil. We feel that the actions done by our strategic partner, the Russian Federation, are entirely congruent with the national security danger that hangs over the nations in the 'Russian World's' orbit."

Top Russian-occupied Luhansk and Donetsk diplomats Vladislav Deinego and Natalia Nikonorova, as well as Abkhaz "vice-president" Badra Gunba, attended the ceremony. Igor Maslov, Chief of Russia's Presidential Directorate for Interregional Relations and Cultural Contacts with Foreign Countries, Dmitry Volvach, Communist State Duma Member Leonid Kalashnikov, and others were among the Moscow group.

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