Experts do not rule out Russia's military intervention in situation in South Ossetia

Mass protests in Tskhinvali may cause Russia's military intervention to settle the situation, according to Ivan Sukhov, a columnist for "The Time of News", and Alan Parastaev, an employee for the project of Radio Liberty "Echo of the Caucasus".

Today, the Supreme Court of South Ossetia has considered the complaint lodged by the presidential candidate Anatoly Bibilov that on the voting day the electorate was pressed on, and recognized the presidential election in South Ossetia invalid. On the decision of the Court, all the results of the second round of the election, where Alla Djioeva was Bibilov's opponent, have been annulled. Also today, the parliament of South Ossetia has appointed the repeated presidential election on March 25, 2012.

By about 5:30 p.m., around 150 people gathered near Djioeva's election office; and by 6:53 p.m. there were already 600-700 people there, Alan Tskhurbaev, who is running his broadcast from Tskhinvali of the situation around the presidential election in South Ossetia, wrote in his blog on the "Caucasian Knot".

According to his story, "it is heavily snowing in Tskhinvali, people warm up at fires made in metal barrels." Anatoly Barankevich has announced that had passed through the head of the local KGB a proposal to Bibilov to go on the air together with Djioeva and admit his defeat. "If he agrees, I'll shake his hand. If he refuses, we go out to the streets," the blogger quotes Mr Barankevich as saying.

According to Ivan Sukhov, an observer of "The Time of News", is sure that there will be no direct intervention of Russian military units deployed in South Ossetia in the situation. However, as he says, there is information received from the scene that a column of police reinforcement is on the way to Tskhinvali from North Ossetia.

Any attempts of force intervention and non-recognition of the obvious for everyone outcomes of the second round of election will be a step to the loss of the Caucasus by Russia, Mr Sukhov is sure.

"I'm sure that Russia won't suppress by force the protests of those dissatisfied with the election outcomes in South Ossetia. This time, things went against the Kremlin scenario, which assumed that Bibilov would be the president. Mr Kokoity was playing his game, showing the Kremlin what can happen if he is not listened to in selection of the candidate; at the same time he showed the opposition, what unexpected moves he can do," said Alan Parastaev, a political expert and an employee for the project of Radio Liberty "Echo of the Caucasus".

The Georgian journalist Zurab Bendianashvili said that the cancellation of the results of the presidential election in South Ossetia was beneficial for Eduard Kokoity. In his opinion, the previous candidates will not be able to take part in the repeated election; and Mr Kokoity, who was not active in the election campaign, will try to nominate his candidate.