TSKHINVALI, Georgia -- Anatoly Bibilov, the de facto incumbent leader of Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia, was defeated by the leader of the Nykhas party, Alan Gagloyev, in a May 8 presidential runoff election.
Bibilov told reporters in the regional capital, Tskhinvali, late on May 8 that the election was valid and he wishes Gagloyev "every success."
According to the latest data issued by the breakaway region's Central Election Commission, 85 percent of ballots had been processed and showed that Gagloyev was at 53.67 percent, while Bibilov trailed with 41.3 percent of the votes.
The United States, the European Union, and Georgia have called the vote illegitimate and said they would not recognize the results.
Russia recognized South Ossetia and another region, Abkhazia, as independent countries after fighting a brief war against Georgia in 2008. Moscow maintains thousands of troops in both regions.