A runner-up in repeat presidential election, David Sanakoev, was appointed as breakaway South Ossetia’s foreign minister on May 30, replacing Murat Jioyev who held the post for last ten years.

Jioyev was appointed as a special envoy of the breakaway region’s leader for post-conflict resolution issues.

South Ossetian leader, Leonid Tibilov, said on May 31 that “new impetus” was needed in order “to successfully meet the task of South Ossetia’s further international recognition”, Tskhinvali-based official news agency, RES, reported.