On June 9, voting for the elections to the de-facto South Ossetian parliament of the VIII convocation commenced at 8:00 AM [local time]. Seventy-one polling stations opened within the republic, along with one each in Vladikavkaz and Moscow. Approximately 40 observers from Russia, separatist Abkhazia, Turkey, and Austria were monitoring the elections. A total of 40,000 ballots have been printed for the voting process. Seven parties - People's Party, Unity of the People, Iry Farn, Communist Party, Unity, United Ossetia, Nykhas - along with more than 100 single-mandate candidates are vying for 34 parliamentary seats. 

Polling stations closed at 8:00 PM. Despite temporary power outages due to hail and heavy rain in the evening, the republic's residents' expression will continue uninterrupted. Power supply disruptions were rectified by around 7:00 PM at all polling stations in South Ossetia. By 6:00 PM, voter turnout had exceeded 63%, with no reported violations by observers or law enforcement.

Atsamaz Bibilov, the Chairman of the party United Ossetia, alleged violations during the voting process for the VIII convocation of the South Ossetian parliament. He reported instances of people being transported to polling stations in districts where they do not reside and voter bribery. This appeal was made before 8:00 PM, the official closure of polling stations. Bibilov warned that the party would not recognize the election results if the voting did not adhere to a legal framework.

Preliminary results indicated that the party "United Ossetia," affiliated with the former de facto President Bibilov, received the most votes (45.67%). The second place was held by the current so-called leader’s party "Nikhas" (29.59%), followed by the "People’s Party" (5.86%), the "Communist Party" (6.14%), "Iri Farn" (5.37%), "Unity" (2.37%), and "Unity of the People" (2.4%).

Response from Germany

On the same day, the Georgian Foreign Ministry condemned the de facto elections held in the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia. The Georgian MFA stated that these so-called elections grossly violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders.

The MFA highlighted that, given the circumstances where IDPs and refugees from the occupied region cannot return to their homes, and residents face human rights and freedoms violations, any such elections are unlawful and cannot produce any legal result. This is because they contradict the basic norms and principles of international law.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia calls upon the Russian Federation to cease actions that violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, to comply with its international obligations, including the ceasefire agreement of August 12, 2008, brokered by the European Union, and to withdraw its troops from the territory of Georgia," the MFA’s statement read.

Response from regional and international actors

Peter Stano, the EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Lead Spokesperson, stated, "Georgia: The EU does not recognize the constitutional and legal framework in which the so-called 'parliamentary elections' took place in Georgia's occupied breakaway region of South Ossetia. The EU remains firm in its support of Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity."

The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the elections, asserting they breached the August 2008 ceasefire agreement and its implementing measures. Estonia reaffirmed its support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.

The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs echoed this sentiment, stating, "Latvia condemns and does not recognize the holding of the so-called parliamentary elections under Russia's occupation on June 9 in Georgia's region of South Ossetia. Latvia strongly supports Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognized borders."

Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also reaffirmed its support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, stating it does not recognize the so-called parliamentary elections held on June 9, 2024, in the Tskhinvali region of Georgia or their results.