South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity said on November 13 that Tskhinvali will seek the extradition of Dimitri Sanakoev, who has claimed victory in alternative presidential polls in South Ossetia.

“Sanakoev and [Uruzmag] Karkusov [chairman of the Eredvi-based alternative central election commission] are traitors of their homeland and traitors to the South Ossetian people. We will demand from Georgia the extradition of Sanakoev, who faces criminal charges here,” Eduard Kokoity said at a news conference in Tskhinvali.

Uruzmag Karkusov told reporters on November 13 that his house in Java, a town in the north of breakaway South Ossetia, was burnt down.

Eduard Kokoity also said at the news conference that his major goal will be to gain international recognition of South Ossetia based on the results of Sunday’s referendum

“We do not want to create an illusion that after yesterday’s votes we will be [internationally] recognized today. We still need to gain recognition. But the referendum will be an important argument, even for those who refuse to recognize it today,” Kokoity said.