A group of international observers arrived in Tskhinvali on November 11 to monitor Sunday’s presidential elections and independence referendum in South Ossetia, the unrecognized republic’s Press and Information Committee said.

According to the report, a 34-member observation team led by Aleksey Martinov will monitor the elections at 78 polling stations.

Aleksey Martinov is acting secretary of the Community for Democracy and Human Rights – an organization that was set up by secessionist leaders of South Ossetia, Abkhazia and Transdnestria in June 2006.

The South Ossetian Press and Information Committee also reported that the observation team will also include monitors from Ukraine, led by Natalia Vitrenko.

Natalia Vitrenko is leader of the Ukrainian Progressive Socialist Party who is known for her anti-western rhetoric and who advocates the international recognition of breakaway Transdnestria in Moldova.

“The observation team will also include monitors from Venezuela, Kosovo, Spain, Germany, Latvia, Poland, Jordan, Austria and Sweden,” the South Ossetian Press and Information Committee reported.