South Ossetia to hold second round of presidential electionNovember 14, 2011 - 13:19 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The second round of presidential polls in South Ossetia will be contested by Emergency Minister Anatoly Bibilov and former Education Minister Alla Dzhioyeva, an election official said on Monday, November 14. No candidate received the necessary plus 50 percent of the vote in the first round, which was held at the weekend. Biblov took 25.44 percent and Dzhioyeva 25.37 percent. Turnout was 67.5 percent. The second round of voting is scheduled for November 27, said Bella Plieva, the head of the former Georgian republic’s Central Election Commission (CEC). The candidates are seeking to replace Eduard Kokoity, who has served two terms. Voters approved Russian as a state language in a referendum held on election day, Plieva added. “83.99 percent of voters voted in favor,” she added. Russian observers monitoring the elections and referendum described voting as free and open, RIA Novosti reported. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |