Political analysts treat Bitarov as main candidate to head North Ossetia

The main rivals to Vyacheslav Bitarov are representatives of power agencies, said the political analysts interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot". According to their version, the President of Russia will have to decide who will govern the republic – a power agents or a manager.

On February 19, it became known that the head of North Ossetia Tamerlan Aguzarov died. Since then, the powers of the head of the republic are temporarily performed by Vyacheslav Bitarov, Chairman of the Government.

Bitarov is one of the main contenders for the post of the republic's leader, said Albert Dudaiti, a political scientist, doctor of historical sciences and professor of the North-Ossetian State University.

"The appointment of Aguzarov had to do, in particular, with the need to improve the economic situation in the region; and Aguzarov himself chose Bitarov as one of the most successful republic's managers," he said.

However, according to the analyst, the federal centre, "taking into account the specifics of the region, may choose in favour of a power agent." According to his opinion, Ruslan Tsalikov, the present Deputy Defence Minister of Russia, may be appointed as the republic's head.

Also, according to the expert, Teimuraz Bolloev, a prominent businessman, the ex-head of the 'Olimpstroy' Corporation and the founder of the 'Baltika' Brewing Company, is one of the candidates for the post.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.