Supreme Court of South Ossetia rejects Tedeev's lawsuit against CEC

Today, the Supreme Court of South Ossetia has upheld the decision of the Central Election Commission (CEC) to refuse to register Djambolat Tedeev, the head coach of the Russian national team in free wrestling, as a candidate for the presidential election in South Ossetia. On October 16, in Vladikavkaz the opposition plans to hold a protest rally.

Let us remind you that on September 30 the CEC of South Ossetia refused to register Tedeev as a presidential candidate. On October 6, his supporters turned to the Supreme Court of South Ossetia with a complaint that the CEC has not provided Tedeev with the minutes of the CEC sitting, where his application was rejected. The second petition was lodged to the Supreme Court of South Ossetia on October 10 with the aim to challenge the CEC decision on Tedeev's non-admission to the election as a presidential candidate.

The decision of the Supreme Court was made at the sitting chaired by Atsamaz Bichenov; the panel of judges also included Karina Tskhovrebova and Nelly Tibilova.

Journalists were admitted only to sentencing.

As reported by Edina Marzoeva, a member of Tedeev's office, the Supreme Court also found the complaints of the CEC members Khandjer Otsaev and Aelita Djioeva of the pressure exerted on them, and threats to their lives as ungrounded.

Let us note here that according to Mikhail Khanikaev, one of Tedeev's lawyers, the lawsuit was based on applications of the two members of the CEC that they were under pressure. Earlier Khanikaev has reported that Otsaev and Djioeva left South Ossetia, fearing threats.

Today, Mikhail Khanikaev said that the sentence was illegitimate.

"They could not pass the sentence today. The most that they could do was to decide to postpone the decision of the court. Not all the witnesses were present at the trial. For example, I myself figured in the case as a witness. That's in my presence that the General Public Prosecutor Taimuraz Khugaev threatened the CEC member Khandjer Otsaev. But I couldn't appear at the court today, as nobody could guarantee my security. Otsaev was present there, but the second member of the CEC Aelita Djioeva, who was also under pressure, failed to appear," said Khanikaev.

He added that documents from the CEC were needed for a full and accurate consideration of the case; however, these procedures were omitted.

Also today, it was reported that on October 16 in Vladikavkaz, the South-Ossetian opposition would hold a rally. Yesterday, on October 11, Djambolat Tedeev's supporters received an official denial of the action.