South-Ossetian activists urge European Parliament to protect them from "legal arbitrariness"

Activists of the Council of National Resistance, who take part in the action "against arbitrariness of the authorities of South Ossetia", have appealed to the European Parliament and legal institutions of the European Union for help in stopping "repressions of the opposition" and protection of citizens of the republic from "lawlessness."

The pre-election situation in South Ossetia has intensified the relationships between supporters and opponents of the incumbent power. The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the refusal to register Djambolat Tedeev, the head coach of the Russian national team in free wrestling, as a candidate for presidential elections in South Ossetia resulted in widespread protestswhich led to detentions and arrests of his supporters.

"From September 29 to present time, Tskhinvali and districts of South Ossetia see mass arrests and beatings. People are sacked from their jobs only under suspicion of supporting Djambolat Tedeev. An unprecedented lawlessness was admitted in relation to Tedeev. Shortly before the sitting of the Central Election Commission (CEC) to consider his case, they registered two candidates – A. Kochiev and V. Kelekhsaev (Alan Kochiev, a teacher at the children's and youth weightlifting school, and Vladimir Kelekhsaev, an MP of the South-Ossetian Parliament of the third and forth convocations, – note of the "Caucasian Knot"), under the current electoral law. But immediately after that, personally, in connection with the documents of Djambolat Tedeev, the parliament hastily introduced a new provision into the law, which made the basis to reject Tedeev's registration as a presidential candidate," the Council of National Resistance says in their appeal to the European Parliament.

The authors of the appeal complain of the lack of support from Russia and ask the European Parliament to provide them with legal assistance. "We, protesters against the tyranny and lawlessness of the authorities of South Ossetia, demand one thing only – observance of the local legislation and the norms of the international law," says the document. The authors also ask the European Parliament to recognize the independence of South Ossetia.

The appeal was signed by Alla Djioeva, Fatima Margieva, Sarmat Dzhussoev, Soslan Pliev, Inara Gabaraeva and Irina Kozaeva.

In his turn, the incumbent President of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity has accused Tedeev and his supporters of an attempt to organize a "colour revolution" in the country.