Tskhinvali Quiet as Jioyeva Holds Talks with Kremlin Official
It was quiet in Tskhinvali on Thursday morning with supporters of an opposition candidate Alla Jioyeva, whose victory in the November 27 presidential runoff was annulled by the breakaway region’s Supreme Court, are expected to reconvene for a protest rally today, according to reports from the breakaway region’s capital.
After midnight Jioyeva’s supporters, who were gathered outside the government’s building in Tskhinvali, heeded her calls and dispersed. During the rally on November 30 security forces fired warning shots into the air, reportedly in an attempt to prevent protesters from breaking into the government building.
Jioyeva was meeting last night with Kremlin’s deputy chief of staff Sergey Vinakurov, who was sent to Tskhinvali by Moscow to try to settle post-election dispute in the breakaway region. Anatoly Bibilov, a presidential candidate backed by Moscow who lost the race to Jioyeva in now annulled runoff, has kept low profile since the second round of election.
Jioyeva said that “constructive dialogue” with the Kremlin official would continue later on Thursday.
According to Itar-Tass news agency, Jioyeva said that she had no intention to make any compromise and to back off from protecting her victory in the November 27 runoff even if she was allowed to run in the repeat election set for March 25, 2012. She has formally requested the Supreme Court to overturn its earlier decision annulling the runoff results. The Supreme Court confirmed receiving an appeal from Jioyeva but failed to specify when it would launch its consideration.
Rumors were circulating in Tskhinvali, that the authorities were intending to impose emergency situation, but acting chairman of the breakaway region’s Parliament, Zurab Kokoev, denied it, according to Res, a news agency run by the breakaway region’s government.