Leonid Tibilov

Leonid Tibilov headed the South Ossetian KGB from 1992 to 1998.[2] He was then a first deputy prime minister and co-chaired a Georgian-Ossetian peacekeeping commission.[2] Tibilov stood at the 2006 presidential election losing to Eduard Kokoity, who won 98% of the vote.[3]

Before the 2012 election Tibilov distanced himself from the outgoing President Kokoity.[4] Tibilov is reported to be loyal to Russia and pledged to consult Russia before appointing a government if he was successful at the election.[4]

In the first round of the 2012 Presidential election, Tibilov received 42.5% of the vote to lead David Sanakoyev.[5] In the second round, Tibilov was elected president with 54% of the vote.[6]

In a move towards integration with the Russian Federation, Tibilov proposed in December 2015 a name change to "South Ossetia–Alania" — in analogy with "North Ossetia–Alania", a Russian federal subject. Tibilov furthermore suggested holding a referendum on joining the Russian Federation prior to April 2017, which would lead to a united "Ossetia–Alania".[7] In April 2016, Tibilov said he intended to hold the referendum before August of that year.[8][9] However, on 30 May, Tibilov postponed the referendum until after the presidential election due in April 2017.[10] At the name-change referendum, nearly 80 percent of those who voted endorsed the name-change, while the presidential race was won by Anatoliy Bibilov — against the incumbent, Tibilov, who had been supported by Moscow and who, unlike Bibilov, was ready to heed Moscow′s wish for the integration referendum not be held any time soon.[11]