Combine conditions: what does Gagloev's transition to the post of Putin's adviser mean?

The appointment of Alan Gagloev to the post of adviser to the President of Russia confirms the high level of relations between Moscow and Tskhinvali. His work in the presidential administration of the Russian Federation can accelerate the republic's integration with Russia and pave the way for possible reunification in the future. However, analysts warn that such a move could strain relations with Georgia and push Tbilisi to accelerate its accession to the European Union. The acting head of South Ossetia will be Chairman of the government Marat Kambolov, who is known for his long-standing friendship with the famous conductor Valery Gergiev.

Gagloev became Putin's adviser

The President of South Ossetia, Alan Gagloev, resigned and moved to the presidential administration of Russia, where he will work as an adviser to Vladimir Putin. Chairman of the Government Marat Kambolov will temporarily serve as the head of the republic. Early presidential elections will be held in South Ossetia: the local parliament is required to approve the voting date within two weeks, and the elections themselves will be held within 90 days.

Prior to being elected president in 2022, Alan Gagloev served for 13 years in the KGB of South Ossetia, including in the departments of economic security and protection of the constitutional order. As a combat veteran, he defended the republic from Georgian aggression in 2004 and 2008. As head of state, Gagloev focused on strengthening financial discipline, implementing the Russian investment program and integrating with the Russian Federation, which resulted in the signing of an agreement on Deepening Allied Relations in May 2026.

This document removes barriers to the free movement of capital, goods, services, and labor. The parties agreed on a phased transition to a single procedure for external borrowing and foreign investment, and also formed a common defense doctrine and coordinated border policy.

In parallel, the agreement launched the harmonization of pension and social protection systems, as well as labor legislation. South Ossetian citizens have received expanded access to Russian medical services according to the internal standards of the Russian Federation.

In addition, the agreement established the mutual right of citizens of both countries to hold state and municipal positions on each other's territory. Previously, only persons who had continuously resided there for the past 10 years could hold senior positions in the republic. The May Treaty lifted this restriction, equating years of living in Russia to living in South Ossetia, which opened Tskhinval to experienced Russian personnel, such as Kambolov. At the same time, the mutual recognition clause simplified the integration of South Ossetian politicians into federal structures.: Alan Gagloev was able to move to the post of adviser to the President of Russia immediately after resigning his powers.

Gagloev's new appointment will help the practical implementation of the May agreement, Dmitry Sidorov, Head of the Department of Foreign Regional Studies at MGLU, told Izvestia. According to him, Gagloev thoroughly understands the internal economic and political processes of South Ossetia. The expert stressed that this step reflects an unprecedented high level of trust between the leaders of the two countries.

Gagloev's transfer to the presidential administration of the Russian Federation means accelerating the republic's integration with Russia and preparing the legal framework for their possible reunification in the future. In his resignation address, Gagloev stressed: the agreement on deepening integration will help the Ossetian people become united again and will be an important step towards the reunification of South and North Ossetia.

"Today our task is to make our cherished dream come true — to overcome the fate of a divided people and reunite with North Ossetia, reunite with Great Russia," he said.

An important role in the integration processes is played by the figure of acting President Marat Kambolov, who has more than 30 years of managerial experience in the highest echelons of the Russian government. From 2010 to 2014, he served as Deputy Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, and also holds the highest class rank — the full State Adviser of the Russian Federation, 1st class.

From September 2021 to January 2025, Kambolov served as director of the Kurchatov Institute, one of the main scientific and nuclear centers in Russia. He arrived in Tskhinval in the spring of 2026: first he took up the post of state councilor, and on June 16 he headed the government of South Ossetia. Kambolov's appointment guarantees Moscow full predictability of the republic's domestic and foreign policy.

Kambolov is also known for his long-standing friendship with the famous conductor Valery Gergiev. This personal connection gives the republic direct access to Russia's influential cultural and political elites, which will help Tskhinvali find faster support for its humanitarian and economic projects in Moscow.

The pros and cons of South Ossetia's possible entry into the Russian Federation

The hypothetical entry of the country into Russia would completely exclude the return of Georgia to these territories and eliminate the source of instability near the southern borders of the Russian Federation. Tskhinval will receive indefinite guarantees of protection from the Russian army and its nuclear umbrella, which will remove the threat of revenge from Tbilisi. The reunification of the divided Ossetian people will be perceived by Russian society as the restoration of historical justice, similar to the events in Crimea.

In addition, full integration means the automatic inclusion of South Ossetia in Russian national projects. This guarantees large-scale financing for the construction of roads, schools and hospitals. Local residents will also have direct access to high-tech medical care under compulsory health insurance policies.

Local businesses, which will get rid of double taxation and customs duties by opening direct access to the Russian market, will also benefit economically. The republic's transition to the legislation of the Russian Federation guarantees that budget subsidies will be spent under strict control of the Federal Treasury. This will eliminate a long-standing contentious issue between the parties.

Today, about 80% of the state budget of South Ossetia is formed by financial assistance from Russia. As Said Gafurov, an associate professor at RSSU, told Izvestia, subsidies are currently distributed in the same way as between Russian regions, but Moscow does not have strict control mechanisms over their use. According to him, this uncertainty has long irritated both government officials and the public. If the republic becomes part of the Russian Federation, this problem will disappear.

However, the expert warned that such a step would sharply aggravate relations with Georgia, which are currently developing constructively, despite the lack of diplomatic ties. Russia ranks second in terms of trade turnover with Tbilisi. Moscow buys two thirds of Georgian wine and about 90% of exported fruits. There is a visa-free regime between the countries and direct flights have been launched. At the same time, every fourth tourist in Georgia is a Russian, and the tourist flow leaves about 1.5 million people per year.

Any harsh political steps by the Kremlin could bring down these economic ties. In this case, the Russophobic opposition in Georgia will get a reason for harsh criticism, and the country itself may force integration into the European Union, Gafurov concluded.

"Moscow is currently building quite constructive relations with Tbilisi, and this factor will have to be taken into account when building relations with Tskhinvali," Sidorov added.

Russia already accounts for more than 90% of South Ossetia's foreign trade turnover. Moscow imports agricultural products, wines, fruits and mineral water. There is also a growing interest in domestic tourism: up to 7 thousand Russians visit the republic annually, for whom a visa-free regime is in effect with the possibility of entry using an internal passport of the Russian Federation.

However, poor infrastructure hinders development. You can only get to South Ossetia by car or bus from Vladikavkaz, and the only border crossing, Nizhny Zaramag, is overloaded. In addition, there is an acute shortage of modern hotels in the region — guest houses and Soviet campsites are mostly available to tourists. Full-fledged integration will open up business opportunities for large-scale investments in new ski resorts, sanatoriums and mountaineering bases.

As a result, deep integration can bring both strategic benefits and new challenges to both sides. For South Ossetia, this means indefinite security guarantees, the automatic launch of Russian social standards and the influx of large-scale investments. For Russia, this step will close the long-standing issue of the divided Ossetian people and strengthen its position on the southern borders, but it will require significant financial investments in modernizing the republic's infrastructure and create risks of a serious cooling of pragmatic economic relations with Georgia.