South Ossetian leader Anatoly Bibilov, who is seeking secession from Georgia, lost the second round of the May 8 presidential election to Nikas opposition leader Alan Gaglo.

According to the latest data published by the Central Electoral Commission, with 85% of the ballots, Gaglo received 53.67% of the votes, 41.3% of the votes were cast for Bibilov.

Speaking to reporters late yesterday evening, Bibilov admitted his defeat and wished his opponent “every success.”

Gaglo, 41, has been with the South Ossetian State Security Committee since 2004.

The West, the United States, the European Union, as well as Georgia, called the vote illegitimate and said they would not recognize the results.

After the short Russian-Georgian war in 2008, Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia, deploying a contingent of several thousand troops there.