TSKHINVAL, Apr 10The turnout in the presidential elections in South Ossetia exceeded 50 percent, the elections took place, according to the CEC data. On Sunday, 76 polling stations in the republic and beyond opened at 08:00 local time (coincides with Moscow), and will close at 20:00: 00. By 16:00 turnout reached 59.9%. 56.6% voted in Tskhinvali, 65.8% in the Tskhinvali region, 68.2% in the Znaur region, 66.9% in the Dzau region, 55.9% in the city of Kvaisa, and 64.1% in the Leningor region. %. Five candidates are running for the post of head of the republic. This is the current head of state, the fourth president, Anatoly Bibilov, who has been acting since April 2017; leader of the Nykhas party Alan Gagloev, former member of parliament Dmitry Tasoev, member of parliament Garry Muldarov and deputy speaker of parliament Alexander Pliev.17:46 Observers from the Federation Council did not record violations in the elections in South Ossetia Polling stations opened in the capital and all four districts of South Ossetia. Four more are located abroad — two in North Ossetia and one each in Moscow and Sukhum. The security of each site will be provided by two security officials. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the republic, more than 600 law enforcement officers will be involved during the elections. Some time after the elections, a referendum on unification with Russia is planned to be held. President Bibilov previously told RIA Novosti that his initiative for a nationwide vote on this issue is a step towards the «strategic goal» of the Ossetian people. He noted that Tskhinval had the opportunity to realize this goal back in 2014, when Crimea was reunited with Russia, but then it was not realized. Moscow recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on August 26, 2008. This happened after the operation to force Georgia to peace, whose troops invaded Ossetian territory and tried to storm Tskhinval. : it is time for South Ossetia to return home to Russia
