S. Ossetia to close border with Georgia amid parliamentary elections
TSKHINVAL. June 4 (Interfax) - South Ossetia will close the border with Georgia amid the parliamentary elections due on June 9, and checkpoints will resume operation on June 20, South Ossetian President Alan Gagloyev said at a meeting with law enforcement chiefs on Tuesday.
Gagloyev denied information about the alleged opening of the border on election day and said that Western security services and NGOs were seeking to thwart the election. Violations of any kind must be prevented, he said.
The South Ossetian parliament will be elected on June 9. Over 73,000 ballots have been printed for 73 polling stations, including two outside South Ossetia, in Moscow and Vladikavkaz. The South Ossetian Central Elections Commission decided to send 800 ballots to a polling station in Moscow and 3,000 ballots to a polling station in Vladikavkaz.
Seven parties, namely United Ossetia, Nykhaz, the Communist Party, the People's Party, the Unity of the People, Iry Farn and Unity, as well as 111 candidates in 17 single-member constituencies are taking part in the campaign. The total number of candidates is 184, the South Ossetian Central Elections Commission said.