Dzambolat Tadtaev, prime minister of South Ossetia, a pro-Russian territory located in northern Georgia, has submitted his resignation from office this Monday, thus facilitating the full implementation of the integration treaty signed with Russia, the only state that recognizes this separatist region as an independent country.
"During a meeting, the President of the Government, Dzambolat Tadtáev, made a personal statement announcing his decision to leave office. The President (Alan Gagloev) has accepted it and thanked him for the work performed to date," the Presidency indicated in a statement.
Until the Parliament gives the green light to the appointment of the new head of government, the first deputy prime minister, Konstantin Dzhioev, will temporarily assume the powers of the Executive. In this way, the Cabinet will continue to operate "in full compliance with its functions and in accordance with current legislation," according to the official statement.
It is expected that the president will propose to Parliament the appointment of Marat Kambólov – a Russian technocrat with a past in the Army – to head the Executive. According to the Presidency, the priority mission of the next prime minister will be to guarantee the execution of the agreements signed between South Ossetia and Russia, including the integration pact.
"The agreement signed on May 9 constitutes an important step to deepen strategic cooperation between South Ossetia and Russia, and opens new opportunities to advance integration and towards reunification with Russia," it emphasizes.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Gagloev signed this agreement to intensify bilateral cooperation, despite the fact that the majority of the international community continues to not recognize South Ossetia as a sovereign state. In practice, the text would turn the region into a protectorate under Moscow's tutelage.