Bibilov's main challengers have been prevented from running for presidency

The presidential election in the Georgian separatist region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) got off to a shaky start with the electoral officials refusing to register two main opposition candidates who wanted to take on incumbent de-facto President Anatoly Bibilov.

Bibilov, Vice-Speaker of Parliament Aleksandr Pliyev, Chair of the Opposition Nykhas Party Alan Gagloyev, MP Garri Muldarov, and former MP Dmitriy Tasoyev were among five presidential candidates registered by the Central Election Commission (CEC).

The elections in separatist Georgian region are planned for April 10th.

Following the announcement, Bibilov issued an appeal to all participants, encouraging them to continue fighting in an "honest, open battle" by signing a united declaration "for clean elections."

Many people's hopes for fair elections were dashed when the CEC announced on Wednesday that it had rejected registration to 12 additional candidates, including two candidates viewed as possible Bibilov competitors — former Defence Minister Ibragim Gazseev and MP David Sanakoyev.

Sanakoyev and two other former South Ossetian officials are accused of war crimes committed during the August 2008 War, according to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in Hauge. At the time, Sanakoyev was a presidential representative for human rights.

Earlier, the South Ossetian security service, the KGB, claimed to be investigating the loss of ‘several pages' of Gazseev’s supporters' signing lists, which they said had been reported to them by a CEC member a day earlier.

Bibilov sacked Gazseev on February 25, alleging his failure to carry out his responsibilities because he was too focused on his presidential campaign.

In separatist South Ossetia, an opposition MP discussed the authorities’ pressure on the CEC

In the separatist republic of Georgia, the ideological leader of the parliamentary opposition, a participant in the election campaign, David Sanakoev, announced strong pressure from the current government on the republican election commission. He believes that the socio-political situation against the backdrop of the upcoming presidential elections in April is very tense. Sanakoev made such statements in his video message.

"We fear that when deciding on the registration of candidates for the CEC, pressure may be exerted by Anatoly Bibilov. This destroys not only the principles of the electoral right, but also the people's expectations for fair and fair elections. [The] process is outside the law, then he will bear full responsibility for the consequences," the independent deputy said.

The de facto CEC of South Ossetia announced the names of candidates for the presidency on March 15. In addition to the fact that the participants of the election campaign had to provide signatures in their support, they also had to pass an exam for knowledge of the state languages: Ossetian and Russian. According to the North Ossetian telegram channel Bonvarnon, among those who failed the exam was the vice-speaker of the parliament, Vladimir Kelekhsaev.

At the same time, media resources affiliated with the current government began to spread reports that pressure on the CEC is being exerted by one of the presidential candidates, Ibragim Gazseev, who was dismissed from the post of defence minister a little earlier. In particular, it is alleged that pressure is being exerted on underwriting experts to ignore fake signatures in support of the retired general.

The d- facto election administration of the separatist republic has registered five people as candidates for the upcoming "presidential election," including current de-facto leader Anatoly Bibilov.

Apart from Bibilov, other candidates include Nykhas Party Chairman Alan Gagloyev, former legislator Dmitry Tasoev, current Representative Garry Muldarov, and Deputy Speaker Alexander Pliev.

Meanwhile, local election officials rejected 12 candidacies yesterday, including those of recently fired "defence minister" Ibragim Gazseev and congressman David Sanakoev, who are viewed as Bibilov's primary rivals.

In the region, the decision has sparked debate, with some pro-opposition Telegram channels accusing Bibilov of practising "feudalism in all its splendour."

The voting panel had previously declined to continue with the registration of former Tskhinvali leader Eduard Kokoity on February 21. According to reports, the initiative group that put forth his candidacy challenged the decision.

Sanakoev has lately been in the news in Georgia because the International Criminal Court in The Hague issued an arrest order for him for suspected war crimes perpetrated in and around South Ossetia between August 8 and July 27, 2008.