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SOssetia keeps prosecutor, Supreme Court chairman in office

Their resignation was part of the compromise drawn between former president Kokoity and Opposition leader Dzhioyeva

Photo ITAR-TASS

Photo ITAR-TASS

TSKHINVAL, December 14 (Itar-Tass) — The parliament of South Ossetia on Wednesday refused to meet the provision of the agreement between outgoing president Eduard Kokoity and former presidential hopeful Alla Dzhioyeva, as it kept the prosecutor general and the chairman of the Supreme Court in office.

In a secret ballot, the lawmakers refused to meet Eduard Kokoity's recommendation to relieve Prosecutor General Taimuraz Khugayev and Supreme Court Chairman Atsamaz Bichenov of their duties.

Their resignation was part of the compromise drawn between former president Kokoity and Opposition leader Dzhioyeva.

One of the provisions of the compromise states that the president "recommends the parliament to relieve of their duties the prosecutor general and the chairman of the Supreme Court. The parliament passes the decision on relieving the above officials of their posts."

Head of the parliament committee on legislation and local self-rule Amiran Dyakonov said "the lawmakers will consider the resignation of the prosecutor general and the Supreme Court chairman independent of any agreement."

"We did not participate in drawing this document and have no legal commitment in connection with the agreement. Every lawmaker will vote depending on his or her own considerations," Dyakonov underlined.

Eduard Kokoity fired Deputy Prosecutor General Eldar Kokoity. He stepped down himself and acknowledged Dzhioyeva's right to participate in repeat election.

For her part, Alla Dzhioyeva acknowledged the parliament's decision to set a new date for the presidential election for March 25, 2012 and persuaded her followers to stop street protests.

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