| Alla Dzhioyeva Джиоты Аллæ Алла Джиоева |
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|---|---|
| Alla Dzhioyeva during the first round of the 2011 South Ossetian presidential election. | |
| Education Minister of South Ossetia | |
| In office February 2002 – February 4, 2008 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 August 1949 Staliniri, South Ossetian AO, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union (now Tskhinvali, South Ossetia) |
| Political party | Independent |
| Alma mater | Odessa University |
Alla Aleksandrovna Dzhioyeva (Ossetic: Джиоты Алыксандыры чызг Аллæ/Džioty Alyksandyry čyzg Allæ; Russian: Алла Александровна Джиоева (born August 23, 1949) is a South Ossetian teacher turned politician, who served as the Education Minister in 2002–2008. She won the 2011 presidential election, but the Supreme Court annulled the results, acting on allegations of electoral fraud, and barred her from running for the office again.[1][2] However, after tense negotiations, an agreement was signed on December 9, allowing her to participate in the 2012 election.[3]
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Alla Dzhioyeva was born on August 23, 1949 in Staliniri, South Ossetian AO, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union (now Tskhinvali, South Ossetia). Having graduated from Ttskhinvali's secondary school № 5, she entered the South Ossetian Pedagogical Institute in 1967, but later transferred to Odessa University, which she finished in 1974 with a degree in philology.[4] Dzhioyeva then returned to Tskhinvali to work as a Russian language and literature teacher in school № 2. She eventually became the school's director, occupying this position until 2002.
In 2001, Dzhioyeva became a supporter of Eduard Kokoity, one of the candidates in the 2001 presidential election. Having won it, Kokoity appointed Dzhioyeva to be education minister in February 2002. Under her leadership, South Ossetia became more integrated into the Russian system of education: the South Ossetian teachers could be trained in Russia, spaces were allocated in Russian post-secondary institutions for South Ossetian students.[5][6] On the other hand, Dzhioyeva refused any form of cooperation with Georgia, including the offers of aid.[7] Nevertheless, the country's Georgian language schools continued to function.[8] Dzioyeva is also credited with launching an experimental project to introduce the Ossetic language immersion classes in some schools.[9]
Dzhioyeva has been a vocal supporter of reunification of South and North Ossetia; in 2006, she became involved in an intergovernmental group for further integration of the two republics.[10][11]
Dzhioyeva was fired by Kokoity on February 4, 2008. The following day, she was charged with several offences and placed under house arrest on March 28. She remained detained until April 29, 2010, when a court found her guilty of fraud and official misconduct, but absolved her of two other charges. She received 24 months' probation and was fined 120,000 rubles.[12] Dzhioyeva appealed to the Supreme Court; the current status of the appeal is unknown.[4]
Dzhioyeva has continuously maintained her prosecution to be politically motivated, brought about by her falling out with Kokoity, whom she sharply criticized.
Dzhioyeva remained an outspoken critic of Kokoity in 2010–2011 and decided to run in the 2011 presidential election. Its first round took place on November 13 with Dzhioyeva running against 10 other candidates, including Anatoliy Bibilov, who has been supported by Kokoity and the Russian government.[13] Bibilov and Dzhioyeva secured 25.44% and 25.37% of the votes respectively and advanced to the runoff.
The second round took place on November 27. According to the preliminary results, Dzhioyeva secured 56.74% of the votes, while Bibilov received 40%.[14] At that point, the South Ossetian Supreme Court ordered the Central Electoral Commission not to publish the results, acting on the Bibilov's Unity Party's complaints of electoral fraud. On November 29, the court annulled the election and barred Dzhioyeva from running in the next one.[2]
Amidst the ensued political crisis, Dzhioyeva declared herself president-elect, formed a state council and called on her supporters to take to the streets.[15] During one of the demonstrations, Dzhioyeva obtained the protocols from the Central Electoral Comission, confirming Dzhioyeva to be the winner.[16]
Dzhioyeva demanded recognition of her victory and resignation of Kokoity, while her supporters engaged in demonstrations on Tskhinvali's central square.[17][18] At the same time, she entered into negotiations with the president; representatives from Russia acted as mediators.
On December 9, the sides reached an agreement, which includes Kokoity's resignation, with the prime minister Vadim Brovtsev becoming the acting president until the next election is held on March 25, 2012; Dzhioyeva will be allowed to contest it. [3]