Original sentence: A parliamentary election in South Ossetia was held in June, 2009.Andrey Nesterenko, the spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the election was judged by international observers to be free and compliant with international norms, and that the election is important for the further development and democratisation of South Ossetia.International observers Group of 11 observers, representing Italy, Germany, Poland, and Russia noted elections were held 'complying with common democratic standards.International observers, including an Italian MEP, noted elections were held "complying with common democratic standards".International observers, representing Italy, Germany, Poland, and Russia noted elections were held "complying with common democratic standards".Italian MEP Giulietto Chiesa commented:.People's Party of South Ossetia.The European Union, the United States,, NATO and the state of Georgia  have issued statements declaring the elections illegal, and have rejected their results.The Republic of South Ossetia has a population of about 70,000.Two opposition parties were not permitted to run
Edited sentence: A parliamentary election in South Ossetia, a breakaway region of Georgia recognised as an independent entity by Russia and Nicaragua, was held in June, 2009.Andrey Nesterenko, spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that the election was judged by international observers to be free and compliant with international norms, and that the election is important for the further development and democratisation of South Ossetia.Giulietto Chiesa, a MEP for Italy and a former Italian Communist Party functionary, participated as a foreign observer and said that the elections were "a model of democracy".People's Party of South Ossetia (pro-Kokoity).South Ossetia has a population of about 70,000.The European Union, the United States, and NATO have issued statements declaring the elections illegal, and have rejected their results.The elections were illegal under laws of Georgia.Two opposition parties were not permitted to run out of concern that they might not be loyal to Eduard Kokoity, the reigning president of South Ossetia