Tibilov received 54.1 percent of votes, the republic's election commission said. His opponent, human rights ombudsman David Sanakoyev, received 42.6 percent.
The declared president-elect said he would work to unite the republic's people.
"Our people are wise, politically mature and, according to preliminary data, I am president-elect, for which I'm thankful to our citizens. The president must not alienate the people. I will work to unite and rally society," Tibilov said late Sunday, RIA-Novosti reported.
In the first round of the election held late last month, Tibilov garnered 42.5 percent of votes and Sanakoyev barely beat out the South Ossetian Ambassador to Russia Dmitry Medoyev for second place, with 24.6 percent of votes for Sanakoyev versus 23.8 percent for Medoyev. Local Communist Party leader Stanislav Kochiyev also participated.
A presidential vote was held in South Ossetia in November of last year, but the results were declared invalid by the republic's Supreme Court on grounds of vote fraud. In that election, opposition leader Alla Dzhioyeva appeared to have defeated Russia's favored candidate, Anatoly Bibilov.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
