Kambolov announced the unpreparedness to open the border with Georgia amid the election campaign.
South Ossetia is not yet ready to open the border with Georgia for transit due to security issues and the lack of necessary regulatory framework, said Marat Kambolov. The acting head of the republic stated this position six days before the early presidential elections against the backdrop of increasing public activity and the inconspicuous campaigning of opponents.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", on September 11, the "Nykhas" party called to support the acting president of South Ossetia (acting) Marat Kambolov in the presidential elections, stating that he is capable of ensuring the consolidation of society and sustainable socio-economic development.
On June 23, Alan Gagloev resigned as president of South Ossetia after being appointed an advisor to Vladimir Putin, and the temporary execution of the duties of the head of the republic passed to the Prime Minister Marat Kambolov. The Parliament of South Ossetia scheduled voting for September 18 on July 1. In July, Vladimir Putin publicly expressed support for Kambolov in the upcoming elections. Four candidates for the presidency of South Ossetia are registered – Marat Kambolov, Zurab Kokoev, Murat Valiev, and Kazbek Kodoev. Materials on the election campaign have been collected by "Caucasian Knot" on the page "Elections of Kambolov in South Ossetia".
It is premature to open the border with Georgia for transit through South Ossetia now, Kambolov wrote on September 12 in his Telegram channel. "South Ossetia is not ready for this yet – neither morally nor in terms of the necessary regulatory framework. For our people, the issue of security is related to the war experienced and the losses. Any decisions here require reliable guarantees. Economic benefit cannot be more important than the safety of people," he noted.
The reduction of waiting time at the "Lower Zaramag" checkpoint has simplified travel between the northern and southern parts of Ossetia, Kambolov reported in the same publication. He called this a step towards bringing the two parts of Ossetia closer together and expressed hope that in the future the need for this checkpoint will disappear.
Kambolov's public activity is increasing as the voting approaches. On August 31, analysts noted that the election campaign is practically being conducted only by Kambolov, while other candidates are "not seen or heard". On September 5, residents of the villages of Orchosan and Tsinaqar voiced to him problems with gas supply and water quality, roads, agricultural machinery, salary arrears, and transport communication, after which Kambolov instructed to determine solutions and deadlines for their implementation. On September 6, Kambolov reported on the results of two months of work of the public support headquarters.
Border restrictions have divided families and complicated travel for residents
To cross the border with Georgia, residents of the Leninogorsk district of South Ossetia need special passes, which are not easy to obtain, residents of the district told a correspondent of "Caucasian Knot" on August 27. Checkpoints on the road from Leninogorsk to Georgia were accessible to residents of border areas only from the 20th to the 30th of each month, while the authorities of South Ossetia announced plans to expand their working hours.
One resident of Leninogorsk noted that she had not seen her sisters living in Georgia for three years due to the lack of a pass. A resident of the district Tamaz pointed out that his children and grandchildren live in Georgia and cannot come to him. The closed road to Georgia was one of the key issues for voters in the Leninogorsk district in the presidential elections, noted activist Tamara Mearakishvili.
Restrictions on movement are also related to a process that human rights defenders call "borderization" – the arrangement of the line of demarcation between South Ossetia and Georgia. The negative consequences of this process have affected residents who need to cross the demarcation line for land cultivation, meeting relatives, and receiving medical assistance, previously indicated researcher Levan Asatiani. Among other consequences, he mentioned the reduction of cross-border trade, the severing of family ties, and the loss of access to churches, cemeteries, and agricultural lands.
Human rights defender Natalia Zvyagina previously called to consider the problem not only as a military-political conflict but also in terms of the everyday needs of people who need to reach their plots and medical institutions. According to the Georgian ombudsman, in 2024, 36 people were detained at the border with South Ossetia.
Georgia considers Abkhazia and South Ossetia to be territories occupied by Russia after Russia intervened in the armed conflict between Georgia and South Ossetia on August 8, 2008, and then recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, according to a report by "Caucasian Knot" on the Five-Day War of 2008. Venezuela recognized the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in September 2009.