"Rebecca, ""Sanakoyev is leader only in name."" So is Kokoity, an importer an self designated ""President."" As you see in the Sanakoev case, anybody can charade the status of Presidency of a Republic size of some village. I can also create a de facto suvereign republic here in Canada and appoint Borat Sadgiev as the President. At least those so called elections by Sanakoev gave an equal opportunity to both Ossetians and Georgians. Unlike Mr Kokoity who not only forbade Georgians to take part in his so called elections but you could not make difference who was leading the separatist in Tskhinvali, his gang or Putin. When you enter Tskhinvali, a big picture of Mr Putin is visible everywhere with the slogan, “Putin is our President”. Comical if not tragic.  "