Contrary to a deal between ex-South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity and opposition leader Alla Jioyeva, Parliament in the breakaway region voted down on December 14 a proposal on sacking chief prosecutor and chairman of the supreme court.

Dismissal of these two senior officials, close allies of Eduard Kokoity, together with the latter’s resignation, was part of the agreement which also ended opposition’s two-week long street rallies in Tskhinvali. Before resignation on December 10, Kokoity dismissed chief prosecutor, Taimuraz Khugaev, and chairman of supreme court Atsamaz Bichenov – but the move also required an approval from the breakaway region’s legislative body, dominated by Kokoity’s ruling Unity party.

In a secret ballot on December 14, the breakaway region’s Parliament voted down with 22 to 8 a proposal on dismissal of chairman of the supreme court. In case of chief prosecutor, votes were evenly split between for and against 15 to 15 with one ballot paper annulled, a local news agency, RES, reported.

Alla Jioyeva condemned the Parliament’s refusal to follow provisions of the agreement, which was signed late on December 9 between her and Kokoity in presence of Kremlin official, Sergey Vinokurov. According to the agreement Russia is “a guarantor” of the deal.

“Some lawmakers do not want stability in the republic and they spare no efforts to stir tensions,” Jioyeva was quoted by the RES.

She said that Russia, as a guarantor of the deal, should now intervene and react on violation of one of the provisions of the agreement. Jioyeva also said that she would now meet with her key allies to discuss future steps.