South Ossetian Leader Steps Down to Become Putin Adviser

June 23, 2026 South Ossetia’s outgoing president Alan Gagloyev and Vladimir Putin. Kremlin The leader of the Georgian breakaway region of South Ossetia stepped down on Tuesday to become an adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, weeks after the ratification of a major integration agreement with Moscow. “Today, our task is to fulfill our cherished dream — to overcome our fate as a divided people and reunite with North Ossetia, reunite with Great Russia,” South Ossetia’s Moscow-backed president, Alan Gagloyev, said in a video address. “I have given my support to our historic leader, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, and I am ready to stand alongside him,” he said, adding that he would immediately begin work as an adviser to the Kremlin leader. Gagloyev, who took office in 2022, said that Marat Kambolov would serve as interim president. Kambolov, a native of the republic of North Ossetia in Russia’s North Caucasus, is a former Moscow bureaucrat who was recently appointed as South Ossetia’s prime minister. The leadership shuffle comes on the heels of an agreement ratified last month by Putin, which seeks to align South Ossetia’s laws closer to Russia’s. Under the deal, Moscow commits to providing social support benefits to the local population and boosting living standards. Putin emphasized the trade, economic and social cooperation of the arrangement, while Gagloyev hailed it as “the beginning of the reunification of the Ossetian people.” In Georgia, both the ruling Georgian Dream party and opposition factions have slammed the integration agreement as part of what they say is the de facto annexation of South Ossetia by Moscow. Gagloyev said Tuesday that, as a Kremlin adviser, he would work alongside Putin to help in the implementation of the integration deal. South Ossetia, along with the Black Sea region of Abkhazia, is recognized internationally as part of Georgia but has been under de facto Russian control since the two countries fought a brief war in August 2008. Russia maintains military bases in both breakaway territories. Read more about: South Ossetia , Georgia , Caucasus Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. 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. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russian Troops Kill Georgian Man Near Breakaway Region An EU monitoring mission confirmed "the tragic loss of a Georgian citizen's life" at the de facto border between South Ossetia and Georgia. 2 Min read Georgia's Breakaway Region Ditches Referendum on Joining Russia Tbilisi previously denounced South Ossetian plans to vote on joining Russia as "unacceptable." Armenia, Georgia Battle Over Yogurt The move has reignited long-standing who-did-it-first tensions that flare up frequently between the two ancient neighbors. Kadyrov Accused of Masterminding Murder Plot Against Georgian TV Host Who Insulted Putin The suspect was working “on the orders of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov,” the would-be victim's boss said.