2017 South Ossetian presidential election

Presidential elections were held in South Ossetia on 9 April 2017 alongside a referendum on changing the official name of the state to "Republic of South Ossetia–the State of Alania", or "South Ossetia–Alania" for short.^[1] Incumbent President Leonid Tibilov ran for a second and final term in office,^[2] but was defeated by Anatoly Bibilov of the United Ossetia party.

2017 South Ossetian presidential election

← 2012 9 April 2017 2022 →
Turnout	79.63%
Nominee Anatoly Bibilov Leonid Tibilov Alan Gagloev Party United Ossetia Independent Independent Popular vote 17,736 10,909 3,291 Percentage 54.80% 33.71% 10.17%
President before election Leonid Tibilov Independent Elected President Anatoly Bibilov United Ossetia

Background

The date was set by Parliament on 18 January 2017.^[2]

Candidates

• Leonid Tibilov, President of South Ossetia since 2012^[3]
• Anatoly Bibilov, Speaker of Parliament^[3]
• Alan Gagloev, former KGB officer^[3]

Disqualified candidates

• Eduard Kokoity, President of South Ossetia from 2001 until 2011. His candidacy was rejected due to the Central Electoral Commission finding that he did not meet the residency requirements; a candidate must live in South Ossetia for at least nine months of the year in the ten years preceding an election.^[3] The decision to disqualify Kokoity led to several protests in Tskhinvali, though the decision was not amended.^[4]
• Amiran Bagayev, construction company owner^[3]
• Alexander Pliyev, deputy speaker of Parliament for Unity of the People.^[5]
• Ruslan Gagloyev, member of parliament, leader of Nykhaz^[5]
• Garry Muldarov, member of parliament^[5]
• Dmitry Tasoyev, former member of parliament^[5]

Opinion polls

Date	Pollster	Tibilov	Bibilov	Gagloev	Against all	Undecided
		Independent	United Ossetia	Independent
9 April 2017	Election	33.7%	54.8%	10.2%	1.3%	0%
4 April 2017	South Ossetia Research Institute	40.7%	23.6%	19.9%	–	15.8%

Results

The final result had Bibilov well out in front with 55% of the vote.

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Anatoly Bibilov	United Ossetia	17,736	54.80
	Leonid Tibilov	Independent	10,909	33.71
	Alan Gagloev	Independent	3,291	10.17
Against all			429	1.33
Total			32,365	100.00
Valid votes			32,365	95.72
Invalid/blank votes			1,447	4.28
Total votes			33,812	100.00
Registered voters/turnout			42,459	79.63
Source: South Osetia