Jioyeva Hospitalized after Authorities ‘Raid’ Her Office

Alla Jioyeva, an opposition leader in breakaway South Ossetia who was planning to inaugurate herself as the region’s leader on February 10, has been hospitalized after law enforcement agencies raided her office in Tskhinvali, Russian news agency reported on Thursday evening.

According to authorities’ version of events, law enforcement officers arrived at Jioyeva’s office in the breakaway region’s capital after she had refused to appear before investigators for "a questioning as a witness" into the case related to "unrests" outside government building in Tskhinvali on November 30, 2011. According to the chief prosecutor’s office Jioyeva fell ill while "talking" with law enforcement officer. According to the same source she was immediately hospitalized and diagnosed with "hypertensive crisis", a highly elevated blood pressure that may lead to a stroke.

Jioyeva’s supporters say that masked law enforcement officers "raided" the opposition’s headquarters, during which Jioyeva fell ill. One of the Jioyeva’s supporters told Russian news agencies, that law enforcement agencies had sealed off area around thier office, as well as the hospital and do not allow anyone to visit Jioyeva. One supporter told Interfax news agency that she feared Jioyeva’s condition was worse than official diagnosis, adding that the opposition leader  was under intensive care in the local hospital.

Meanwhile, acting leader of the breakaway region, Vadim Brovtsev, released a statement saying that Jioyeva’s intention to inaugurate herself on February 10 was "actually a call for forceful seizure of power".

Brovtsev, whose statement was released after Jioyeva was hospitalized, said that he "assume[s] full responsibility to prevent coup."

"Violation of laws will be eradicated in the most decisive way. Additional measures will be undertaken to protect law and order and constitutional rights of citizens," Brovtsev said.

He also said that he would take all the measures needed for holding "free and fair" repeat presidential election on March 25.

Alla Jioyeva, whose victory in breakaway South Ossetia’s presidential runoff last November was annulled, said in late January, that she was quitting post-election deal with the authorities and boycotting March 25 repeat election because considered herself as a legally elected new president of South Ossetia.