South Ossetia: six candidates for president failed exams in state languages

The examination for fluency in state official languages was successfully passed by only two out of eight contenders for the post of the head of South Ossetia, who were evaluated today by the members of the linguistic commission.

"The exam was taken by eight contenders for the post of the president, namely: Murat Guchmazov, Chairman of the Union of Afghan Veterans; ex-MPs Sergey Zasseev and Vladimir Kelekhsaev; Ruslan Bagaev, the former head of the administration of the Dzaus District; entrepreneurs Anatoly Djioev and Rustem Djioev; Felix Bitiev, Director General of the Insurance Company "Yugosetsotsstrakh"; and David Sanakoev, Ombudsman under President of South Ossetia. Only two of them – Zasseev and Sanakoev – were assessed positively," said Bella Plieva, the head of the CEC (Central Election Commission).

According to her story, the final decision on registration of presidential candidates will be made after verification of signature lists, conclusions about reliability of data in submitted income and tax declarations, and confirmation of residence in the territory of the republic for the past 10 years.

The final verdict on the CEC on the six candidates who failed their exam has not been made yet, the RIA "Novosti" reports.

On February 21, eight more contenders will take their exam, the IA "Res" reports.